Laurali felt like puking and crying and hyperventilating all at the same time as she stood on the train platform. The past few weeks were a whirlwind of confusion and wonder.
She had just recently found out that she was a witch! And that she was being sent off (against her will) to Hogwarts—a place where she was to learn magic—for seven years. Away from her family, friends, and everything familiar.
So now here she was. On platform 9 ¾ (which you had to run through a wall to get to) five minutes till 11 o'clock.
"Mummy do I really have to leave? Why can't I just go back to being normal?" Her lip started quivering despite herself, usually she wasn't this much of a cry baby, but she couldn't stand the thought of being shipped away to some foreign place without knowing anyone.
"Oh sweetie you'll be fine I promise. You're going to make friends, and do well in school," When Laurali still looked doubtful, her mother lifted her chin, "Honey you have been blessed with an incredible, and wonderful gift. To not go to Hogwarts would waste an opportunity of a lifetime. Do you understand me?" Laurali looked into the depth of her mother's hazel eyes and saw that there was no point in arguing. She was going to this poppycock school whether she liked it or not. Nodding gloomily, Laurali grabbed her trunk gave her parents one last hug good-bye and hastily made her on to the train about to depart.
Kids were running up and down the aisle, calling old friends talking about their summer, making her feel even more like an outsider. She quickly found an empty compartment. Where she slumped down and promptly burst into the tears she had been holding in since she had left her home earlier that morning.
She didn't know how long she sat there and cried, but after awhile she just started hiccupping, and staring out the window pathetically. Then quite suddenly and loudly her compartment door slammed open. Whipping her head around Laurali saw the culprit plopping themselves down onto the seat across from her.
He had dark brown hair, freckled skin, and startling blue eyes, that reminded her of the finest sapphires money could buy. Sniffling, she drew herself to a total height of 4'9. She was trying very hard to disguise the fact that had been uncontrollably sobbing for the past hour or so.
"What's wrong?" He asked, before she could say anything. Sniffling again, and slumping her shoulders once more, Laurali looked down and ignored the question.
"My name's James. James Potter." He whispered softly. "May I know yours?"
"Laurali. Laurali Welch." She croaked back, still not making eye contact with him.
"Laurali," he said testing it out, "well that's a mouthful isn't it?" Laurali's head snapped up, to see him smiling, his blue eyes gleaming with laughter. "Well if you don't mind, I think I'm going to call you Li."
Scrunching her eyebrows together in confusion, "Why Li? Most just shorten it to Laura."
"Well then that would make me ordinary now wouldn't it? And I can assure you that I am anything but ordinary." He answered with a mischievous smile, and for the first time since finding out about being a witch, Laurali smiled, a genuine smile.
"If you say so." She replied quietly, grinning.
-o-O-o-
"What is it?" Laurali questioned looking at the odd quill shaped candy that James had bought for her. They had been sitting and laughing for a couple hours now. He had told her so many stories about Hogwarts, and the houses and the world of magic in general. It was all quite fascinating when he told her about it, much more than the books she had read or the informant who had told her she was a witch.
"It's a Sugar Quill. You suck on it." He demonstrated, by shoving it in his mouth, "Sthee?" So she did the exact same, and she had to say it was great. It was strawberry, her favorite flavor.
"So James why did you come into my compartment anyway? And won't your friends be looking for you?" She asked. The question had been burning inside her since he had come in.
"Well I told my friends I was going to the lavatory, but then I saw you crying, and I remembered seeing you crying on the platform as well, so I thought I'd pop in and grace you with my good looks, charm, and brilliant wittiness!" He finished with a wink. Making her burst into a fit of giggles, "Oh that's rich, how do you know I'm not just using you for your money?"
"Well how do you know that I have money?" He countered. Right before Laurali could say anything else, her compartment door once again flew open.
"There you are mate! I've been looking all over for you! We thought you might've fallen into the toilet or something." Cried a boy that had dark skin with tight curls close to his head, and sky blue eyes.
"Sorry Fred I got a little distracted." Fred gave Laurali a once over before turning back to James.
"Well we're almost to the school you two might want to change into your robes." He said, then left abruptly, slamming the compartment door behind him.
James stood up and stretched for a second, "Well come on then, grab your stuff and we can head to the lavatory together to change." Then James quickly corrected himself, "But not together of course! I'll watch you—I mean wait while you change and you while I change!" By the time he finished Laurali was once again in a fit of laughter. She quickly grabbed her robes and clothing and followed James down the train.
They finally stopped at a compartment full with people. James happily opened the door and motioned for her follow. Looking around she saw Fred sitting with three other girls and two other boys. "Oi the Great James Potter has returned everyone from conquering his greatest foe, Lord Porcelain!" cried a boy with dreads sitting next to Fred.
"Oh shut it Lee!" James said but smiled as he lightly punched him in the arm.
"Where have you been James? You just disappeared for hours." Said the girl who looked like a feminine version of Fred, but had more freckles and red tinted curls that went down to her mid back.
"Well if you all must know I was talking with Laurali," He answered while gesturing to her, "Li was in desperate need of some cheering up and I took it upon myself to do so." He explained matter-of-factly, while grabbing his robes out of his trunk.
"Oh, well hullo Laurali!" Roxy greeted brightly, Laurali just smiled shyly in response.
"Where are Albus and Rose?" James questioned once he was done getting his stuff.
"They wandered off awhile ago." Mumbled Fred, who seemed to be concentrating on the game of cards he was playing with the kid named Lee.
Wearing a confused expression, James nodded, "Alright, we'll be back in a minute." Once again Laurali followed him down the train, all the way to the bathrooms at the end. They changed quickly, and by the time they were done they heard the train come to a screeching halt.
Suddenly Laurali stomach began to flip rapidly just like it had on the Platform. James had explained to her that since she was a first year she would have to get to the castle a different way and then get sorted. So for all she knew she might not even be in the same house as him, and he was the first friend she had made.
Lightly grabbing her hand James continued to lead her down the aisle, "Don't worry Li, I know that you'll get sorted into Gryffindor or I wouldn't have spent so much time talking to you! And as for going to Hogwarts with other first years, I want you to meet some people." Nodding timidly, Laurali tried her best to keep up with larger boy's strides. Suddenly James stopped abruptly in a compartment with two kids still sitting in their compartment looking just as scared as Laurali felt.
"Albus. Rose there's someone I'd like you to meet." He said stepping to the side so that they could see Laurali clearly. The boy was sitting to her left looked similar to James, but had unruly raven black hair, where James' eyes were dark blue, his were evergreen. The girl sitting across from him and curly fiery red hair, with pale skin speckled with freckles and hazel eyes that held intelligence far beyond her age.
"Hullo." Laurali mumbled, without looking up from her feet.
"Hi! Are you a first year as well?" The boy asked cheerily if a bit anxiously. His cheeriness made Laurali relax a little, but she still only nodded in response.
"Well then you can come and sit with us on the boats." The girls pitched primly. Already Laurali was feeling better. But she still wanted nothing more than to go with James.
"See Li, now you can stay with my brother and cousin until the feast. Then you can come sit with me again." James said with a half-smile that reassured her more than anything else.
"Thanks James." Was all she could come up with.
He ruffled her hair, "No problem Li, what are friends for?" And with that he ushered all three of them out of the train, and on the platform. Where hundreds of students were swarming around a giant. And Laurali didn't mean this figuratively; a literal giant was calling for first years to follow him. Before the trio left James he caught Albus' arm, "Hey don't worry about the sorting, I know you'll make Gryffindor and well if you don't I'll kick anyone's arse who's got a problem with it." Albus smiled.
"Thanks James. That means a lot." James smile at his younger brother before turning back to Laurali and giving her one final wink before taking off with the older students.
"Why would anyone care if you made a different house than him? Doesn't that happen a lot, sibling being sorted into different houses?" Laurali asked.
Rose gave her a peculiar look, before asking, "You're a muggle-born aren't you?" Laurali had no idea what that had to do with her question but nodded anyway.
Rose nodded as though she had already known Laurali's answer, "I thought so, everyone in the wizarding world knows who our families are. You see, our parents," she motioned between her and Albus, "are War heroes, and well there's a lot of pressure on us to be in Gryffindor and be just as great as our parents. Every single person in our family has been in Gryffindor, so everyone is expecting us to be in Gryffindor as well. Which is why we're so nervous. Don't want to disappoint."
Laurali nodded and wondered why James hadn't mentioned that. As if reading her thoughts Rose stated, "I'm surprised James didn't gloat about it to you, that's very out of character of him. Oh come on, we should get on that one." Rose pointed to the boat with no one else in it. Albus and Laurali followed.
They all sat silently, waiting for everyone else to find a seat. Then magically the boats took off without anyone pushing them, and soon an enormous castle came into view. It was one of the most enchanting things Laurali had ever seen. The enormous towers soaring over her and all the lights of the castle reflecting off the water…Laurali was positive it was the most ethereal and wondrous thing she had ever beheld.
"Beautiful isn't it." Whispered Albus. Laurali looked at him in awe, and nodded. And without uttering a word they both reached out for one another's hand. They both looked at each other in surprise, but still didn't let go. Smiling at one another they squeezed each other's hand and went back to staring at the picturesque castle in the distance. Wondering what the years ahead would bring them.