Disclaimer: This is all the incredible work of J.K. Rowling.
Also this is my first story so give a few chapters before I really get going!
Ch. 1 Who is that?
It was the first of September, for some this may be just an average day, but for those students that go back to Hogwarts it is one of the best days of the year. I walked through the barrier to platform 9 3/4 and the first thing I see is the scarlet engine billowing smoke, ready to make the journey to the village of Hogsmeade. There are loads of people on the platform, students that haven't seen their friends for months, parents saying tearful goodbyes to their children, and of course the many red heads of the Weasley family. Which I am proud to say I am a part of, even though the crazyness can get the best of anybody.
The station is incredibly loud as I make my way over to my very large family. Aunt Hermione is the first to see me and engulfs me in one of her wonderful hugs, which I wouldn't be surprised if she picked it up from Nana Weasley. Uncle Ron shakes my hand, as to Uncle George. By this time my father is being noticed by all those on the platform. Even after the war he still is getting stares to this day.
"James! Get over here and give me and your father a hug," my mother practically screams at me, she is not one to be trifled with. Albus is already making his way on to the train, looking for his friends. Lily is still glued to my mothers side, being the mommas girl she is and all. I walk over there and give mum a hug like I was told. My father comes up to me and pulls me aside, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Now James, please try not to get in as much trouble this year, if you mother receives another owl from the headmaster, she is going to throw a fit. Just have fun, and enjoy being quidditch captain, even though I'm sure you will."
"I will dad, but I can't make any promises on staying out of trouble, you know how Fred and I are." I shake my fathers hand and grab my trunk, making my way onto the train. I push through the crowds of people looking for a compartment. I know Fred, my best friend and favorite cousin, has already saved our regular compartment. When I reach the compartment, to my surprise there is a girl I have never seen before reading in the corner. Fred looks up and spots me, giving me his huge goofy grin.
"Hey mate, glad you could finally grace us with your presence."
"Its my pleasure, git" I retort. I notice that the third part of our trio, my other best friend and pranking accomplice , Ellie Wood.
"Hey Ells, Hows it going? Have a good summer?" she looks up from her drawing and smiles at me. I have to admit she is one of the prettiest girls in our year, but she is like a sister to me.
"It was wonderful, went on holiday to France with my family, to celebrate me getting all of my OWLs, mostly outstanding I might add," she smirks, which happens to be her trademark. Did I mention she is also the smartest witch in our year?
"Well arn't you special? I got all of my OWLs as well, what about you Fred?" I smirk in his direction, knowing his mom threw quite the fit when he received his results back this summer.
"Lets just not talk about that, shall we." Ellie and I start laughing. The new girl looks up from her book with a curious expression. Probably wondering what lunatics she decided to share a compartment with. Even though the three of us are relatively calm at the moment.
I walk over and sit down next to Fred across from the girl and stick my hand out to her. "Hello, I'm James Potter."
"I know who you are, your in the papers nearly all the time, even in America. I'm Lindsey Fitch. Pleased to meet you." She had a very defined American accent, obviously a transfer student.
Ellie pipes up "So your a transfer student? I'm Ellie Wood." She also shakes Lindsey's hand.
Fred, being the eloquent person he is says "Nice accent."
"Back at ya, I see your an ever famous Weasley and yes I am a transfer student form the Salem Witch Institute in Boston."
"Why yes, I am the famous Fred Weasley, the second of course. Prank enthusiast, son of the ever famous George Weasley, and best friend to these two wankers." Like I said very eloquent don't you think?
Ellie and I laugh at our friend. I take a closer look at this foreigner. She has bright green eyes, and auburn colored hair that falls down in waves. She is petite. She would probably only come up to my shoulder, but I am 6 ft so that doesn't say much. She is the opposite of Ellie, who has black hair, bright blue eyes, and is almost as tall as I am.
"So what house do you think you will be in?" I ask, genuinely curious. I have never met an American girl before.
"What do you mean by that?" she looks even more curious than before. Her eyes seem to sparkle when she looks at us.
Ellie chooses to explain about the four houses, mentioning that Slytherin is where the snakes reside. Lindsey seems to ponder this for a little while.
Fred goes on to say "We are all mighty Gyffindors, brave souls I tell you."
"Well Ellie and I are brave, you run the other direction when you see a bloody spider." I state. "I think you are around Uncle Ron a little too much."
"Yeah really Fred, and you can't even really go into dark places when we sneak out to Hogsmeade, James and I have to go first." Ellie throws out laughing as she says it.
"What is this, make Fred sound like a wussy day? Honestly." Fred huffs in his corner folding his arms across his chest.
Finally Lindsey decided what house she would like to be in, smiling at our conversation she says "I think I would like to be in Gryffindor, and if not there then in Ravenclaw. I am pretty smart, being an American and all." She puts on a smirk that could rival one of Ellie's, following Fred's actions by setting her book down and crossing her arms across her chest.
Again the oh so eloquent Fred projects his thoughts "I thought Americans were supposed to be fat and likewise unintelligent?" He questions. Ellie and I groan thinking that he would most likely offend the new girl.
She fires back rather quickly saying "I though you English folk had a bunch of sticks up your asses, you don't see any fat on me now do you?" She smirks at Fred, who looks more offended by her comment than she did at his.
Fred finds it in himself to keep his mouth shut for once and goes to looking out the window where night is starting to fall.
"It looks like we are getting close we should probably change into our robes." Ellie says, standing up to dig into her trunk. Lindsey does the same, and I was right she is short, but I'm not about to tell her that. "Come on Lindsey we can go change in the bathrooms before the lines get to long." The girls leave the compartment leaving Fred and I to ourselves.
"So James what do you think? She's awful good looking don't you say?" Fred asks as he too reaches up into his trunk.
"Yes she is. I think she is going to fit in just fine. I hope she is in Gryffindor too. Her and Ellie already seem to be getting along."
"Good thing to since Mary Finnigan kept blowing Ellie off last year, for that one bastard, Caleb Flint. I'd like to see Ellie find a nice girl to be friends with, instead of that slag." Fred does not like Mary one bit, she is one of those girls that has a reputation with the lads, on to a different one every couple weeks.
"Yeah she better not even try to talk to Ellie this year, or we will just have to find a way to prank her." I huff back into my seat. The lights of Hogsmeade can be seen from the distance. I'm still staring out the window when the compartment door slides open and the two girls come back in all smiles.
"Mary was walking down the corridor, and I sent a tripping hex her way. After she got up she was yelling at Marcus for tripping her. It was hilarious!" Both Ellie and Lindsey burst into laughter. I'm glad they get along, because there is something about this new girl that intrigues me.
A few minutes pass and the train pulls into the station at Hogsmeade. Even though the little village is dark it still has a magical aura about it. I love Hogsmeade, it reminds me of home back in Godrics Hollow, so the weekends we get to go down to the village are always enjoyable. The horseless carriages can be seen waiting to ferry the students up to the castle. The train pulls to a stop, I see my brother rushing down the hallway, followed by Rose, both ended up prefects and receive endless tormenting over it my Fred and I. They are rushing to attend to the ickle first years, how they get so small I have no idea.
The four of us exit our compartment and go find a carriage that is empty. I look over at Lindsey to see what she thinks, but she has a vacant expression on her face. I wonder if she can see the Thestrals? When she sees me looking at her she quickly puts a smile on her face, but it doesn't fool me.
"I am so bloody hungry!," Fred shouts to no one in particular.
"You are always hungry, if you could eat every five minutes I'm sure you would." Ellie states, as she walks towards a carriage and hops in. Fred follows after her exclaiming "I would if I could, but then I would probably look like an American!" He smirks looking at Lindsey, who's thoughts seem to be elsewhere with a worried expression on her face. When she realizes what Fred said she smiles but doesn't say anything and climbs into the carriage after Fred. I climb up and shut the door.
The carriages start moving and we are all looking out the window to get our first glance at our home until July. Even though I have seen the castle for the last 5 years, it still floors me when I first see it after the long summer. With all its magical glory and the lights shining through the windows, with the black lake glistening off the side of it. We come around the bend and there it is, in all its glory, Hogwarts. I look over to Lindsey to see her reaction. Her mouth is agape as she is staring in wonder at the beauty of the castle.
"Wow, its gorgeous!" She exclaims, her previous thoughts seem to have been forgotten as she keeps staring at the castle. Fred, Ellie and I share a glance and smile at each other.
The carriages pull up to the Entrance Hall doors and the four of us climb out and walk inside merging in with the crowd of students. As we enter the Great Hall the four house tables are ready for the nights festivities, the ceiling is dark and sparkling with all the stars in the night sky.
"Well this place is just full of surprises." Lindsey says beside me. I smile down at her, knowing that everyone is amazed by the ceiling. I look back up and see Headmistress McGonagall walking towards us.
"Good evening you three, you must be Lindsey. Follow me and you will be sorted with the first years." Her tight bun set on her head, and her stern demeanor make Lindsey stand up straighter to follow the Professor.
"See you at the Gryffinor table Lindsey!" Fred shouts after her. Earning him a stern look from the Headmistress.
The three of us make our way to the table and sit next to Rose and Albus, along with Katy Finnigan, who is the complete opposite of her sister and in Albus's year, and Chester Creevey who is the another boy in me and Fred's year.
"Those little first years are a bigger pain than they were last year." Rose moans. Turning to talk to Theresa Abercrombie, her best friend, and one of my ex-girlfriends unfortunately. That didn't even come close to working out. She and Rose may get along, but she is one of the clingiest, most nerdy girls I have met. What possessed me to date her in the first place I have no idea. Oh now I remember, Rose was incessantly bugging me about getting together with her.
The hall suddenly quieted as Professor Longbottom led the first years, and Lindsey, into the hall and up to where the sorting had was sitting on its stool. The sorting started but Fred and I were putting are heads together for our first prank of the year, only clapping when we heard the call of "Gryffindor!" All I have to say is a certain group of Slytherins are in for it. After a while of the sorting Ellie elbowed me, I looked up and around and saw Lindsey approaching the stool. I in turn elbowed Fred who also looked up.
Lindsey nervously sat down, the whole hall was staring at her. She is probably the first transfer student in a really long time to grace these halls. I felt bad for her, because after this she will be part of the famous Hogwarts gossip mill. The sorting hat was placed on her head. The hall seemed to be holding its breath, it seemed to be a lot of debate going on up there with the hat. What seemed like an eternity later the sorting hats seam opened and it bellowed "GRYFFINDOR!" Ellie, Fred and I jumped up and started cheering along with the rest of the table. Lindsey jumped of the stool and practically ran to sit in between Ellie and I. She looked incredibly relieved.
Ellie gave her a hug and she smiled at Fred and I. "I told you I would see you at the Gryffindor table!" Fred said clapping me on the back.
The hall fell silent again and Mcgonagoll stood at the podium ready to make her start of term speech. "For those of you who are new, welcome. For those of you that are returning, welcome back. Our past Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has decided to retire. I am pleased to welcome to our staff Professor Williamson, who has come here all the way from America to teach here at Hogwarts. For those of you who do not know, the Forbidden Forest is exactly that, Forbidden. Also Mr. Filch requests that all products from Weasley Wizard Wheezes are prohibited. Now enough chit chat, tuck in!"
Food miraculously appeared on the table. Fred had already piled his plate high before the majority of the hall had even grabbed their forks. I love my mothers cooking, after all she learned from Nana Molly, but the house elves sure knew how to cook as well. Thank Merlin for quidditch or I would be as big as a barn.
Soon after McGonagall had made her speech, the feast had come to a close. Albus and Rose both rose from the table, along with their prefect partners, Katy and Evan Longbottom, in order to usher the little first years up to the Gryffindor town. As Albus passed me he whispered to me the password, knowing I would take a few shortcuts along the way. Fred, Lindsey, Ellie and I rose from the table and joined the crowd exiting the Great Hall. We strolled in silence for a bit, letting our stomachs settle, and making our way up the stairs. Cutting off from the crowd we went behind a tapestry, into a secret passageway. Lindsey seemed surprised by this revelation.
Fred leaned over and whispered "We know our way around the school pretty well, thanks to Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron. So the Professor from America, you know him?"
"As a matter of fact I do. Although he was a potions master as Salem. I'm actually quite surprised he is here." Lindsey said with a frown.
"Do you not like him?" I asked, a tad curious as to why she frowned at the mention of him.
"Not really. He was kind of a prick to be honest. Or how do you Brits say a 'git'?" Lindsey said seeming to begin to be herself in our company.
"Well yes, you could say git, prat is also good you know. I use that one quite a lot." Ellie piped in. We had reached the portrait of the fat lady by now.
"Password?" She drawled in a sing song voice. She was quite large I might add, she never quite liked Fred and I because we always seemed to wake her from her slumber with our late night wanderings.
"Gillyweed." I spoke, the portrait swung open and the four of us climbed inside. Turns out we were indeed the first ones back to the common room, which means we were able to snag the coveted arms chairs and coach right in front of the already crackling fire place. It may be September but that doesn't mean the castle isn't already a bit drafty.
Fred sprawled out on the couch, while Ellie say on the opposite end causing her self to be a footrest for the very tall red head laying next to her. Lindsey and I took the arm chairs opposite each other. "It's good to be back, this place always feels like a second home." Ellie said, while trying unsuccessfully to push Fred's feet off of her lap.
"I rather enjoy these nights by the fire." I said, but the moment of peace was ruined when the rest of the residents of the tower began to make an appearance through the portrait hole.
"Well I'm rather tired I think I'm going to head up to bed." Ellie said, "I think it would be nice to feign sleep when Mary comes up." She got up and started heading to the girls staircase, but stopped and turned back around. "Lindsey are you staying up for a bit?"
"Yes, I think I might. I'm not that tired yet. I'll just see you in the morning." Tomorrow being a Sunday means we would all have a nice relaxing day before class started.
"Alright, see you. Night boys."
"Goodnight Ellie." Fred and I chorused as she turned and headed up the stairs. Fred's eyes seemed to linger on her as she headed out of sight. I will have to inquire about that later. I always figured something might end up happening between those two. Although I doubt it ever will.
"Well Linds, how do you like good ole Hogwarts so far?" I asked, breaking the moment of awkward silence between us three.
"I think its wonderful. I see why you guys can think of it as a second home. I just hope I can fit in, being American and all."
"I can't see why you won't fit in, especially when your hanging around us. James and I are rather popular, and if the girls give you any trouble we can just sick Ellie on them." Fred stated with a goofy smile, obviously trying to make her feel better.
"Yeah, if anything the girls will just be jealous of you." I said.
"Oh yeah? Why in the world would they be jealous of me?" Lindsey fluttered her eyelashes playing along.
"Well Fred and I are fairly attractive if I do say so myself. The fan girls will be immensely jealous when they find you get to hang around us and we've only just met." I stated as if it were a privilege to be considered part of our group. Which indeed it was.
"Yes we are exceedingly attractive and very intelligent I might add. James here is at the top of the class." Fred drawled.
"Oh stop it, your going to make me blush." I waved my hand and covered my mouth and what I hoped to be a girlish impression.
Lindsey seemed to laugh at this while she stood up and stretched. " Well I won't disagree with you there, we will have to see about the whole intelligence thing." she said with a laugh. "I'm going to hit the hay ill catch you fellows tomorrow."
She walked off towards the staircase. "Yes see you then, sunshine." Fred said, trying to keep the laugh from escaping his lips hearing her different accent.
For a while Fred and I just sat in silence. Both of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally I broke the silence "I think there is something that brought her here that she might be hard pressed to tell us."
"I think your right. Maybe if we showed her she could trust us, we could figure her out a little more." Fred pondered seemingly thinking about something besides Lindsey.
"I think your right. Maybe we could show her a little Marauder. She seems well enough." I wondered. Not many people were privileged to see the Marauder style. Only family, besides Ellie that is. "Well I'm off to bed. See you tomorrow."
"Night mate." I left Fred to his thoughts making my way upstairs to the 6th year dormitory. Chester and Levi Jordan were already in bed. I changed into my pajamas and crawled into my four poster. Thinking of Lindsey. Usually girls don't stay on my mind for long. I did have a reputation for being a bit of a player. But there was something different about her. Maybe because she was such a mystery to me. Made me wonder who she really was.