Homeward Bound.

Chapter 2.

As Wallis re-packed her trunk the next morning, she looked out her window onto the crowded market streets of Muggle London. In a few hours, she would be on The Hogwart's Express, thundering through the hills and fields of North Scotland. There was something about the quiet and untouched glens that made Wallis feel at home, and safe.

It wasn't long until she heard a loud rap at the door, behind which Stephen was shouting to her, "Get a move on! We're leaving in an hour!" Smiling to herself, Wallis packed her books into her trunk, but then noticed that she was one book short. Confused, she looked around her as she walked to her door to let Stephen in. He dumped his trunk by the door and sat down at the edge of he bed and picked up Lucy.. "What is it?" He asked.

"I've lost a book. Fantasic Beasts and Where to Find Them." She said, still looking puzzled.

"Have you tried under the bed?" Stephen asked.

"Now why would it be there?" She replied, looking quizzical.

"I dunno.."

"Well, it definitely won't be under there. I can assure you." She laughed. Sighing to herself, Wallis closed her trunk and admitted defeat. "I guess I can just order a new one from Flourish and Blotts."

Wallis closed her case and made a last sweep of the room, ensuring she had all her belongings. She picked up her wand and placed it inside her coat in a pocket along with her new Prefect badge.

"Well, we better be off." Stephen said, failing to surpress a grin spreading across his face. Wallis carried her trunk and took Lucy from Stephen and they left the room and continued downstairs into the bar. Stephen thanked Tom the Innkeeper and they left through the busy streets of Muggle London. Having no real way of transport to King's Cross, they usually made their way on muggle transport. Wallis was used to it as it was part of her everyday, halfblood way of life. Stephen however, was not as accustomed as she was as his pure-blood status never lead him to take part in muggle modes of transport. Once on the bus, Wallis used the remainder of her muggle money to buy their fares and they sat near the front.

"So, remind me again why there are big hills in the road?" Stephen asked.

"So people dont go to fast over them and then they can't hurt people." Wallis replied.

"Well, they're not doing their job very well are they? I'm going to be covered in bruises by the time we get to school!" He exclaimed. Wallis rolled her eyes as Stephen moved uncomfortably in his seat.

Before long they reached King's Cross Station. Once inside they collected trolleys on which they placed their trunks. Wallis beamed as the familiar Wizard families disappeared from view, vanishing one by one behind the barrier onto Platform 9 & 3/4. Wallis and Stephen walked briskly towards the wall, Stephen pushing the trolley with the trunks. Wallis' looked around as the wall engulfed them and Platform 9 & 3/4 surrounded them. They shared an excited glance as the huge steam engine that was The Hogwarts Express stood infront of them. They walked to the edge of the platform quickly as they were schedueled to leave in two minutes. Wallis removed her trunk from the trolley and continued inside the train. She walked along the row of compartments until she caught sight of a familiar face.

"Luna!" She exclaimed, walking into the compartment. A pair of big, blue, dreamy eyes floated up from a page in The Quibbler.

"Oh, hello Wallis. Hello there Stephen." She smiled, dazed. "Oh how nice! You bought a kitten!"

"Yeah, just got her yesterday." Wallis smiled.

"Hey there, Luna." Stephen greeted. They took seats across from her after storing their trunks away. "How's your dad doing?"

"Oh he's well. Still trying to round up the gnomes in the garden, he almost has half a choir now. If they would only stop running away.." Luna trailed off as she looked out of the window. Wallis smiled to herself as she watched her crystally eyes float back to the pages of The Quibbler. That moment a very out of breathe Rachel appeared in the doorway of the compartment.

"Look who decided to show up!" Stephen jeered.

"H-Hilarious." Rachel panted. "Who's that?" She asked, pointing to Lucy. She had been lucky, as the second she sat down the wheels started to turn and they were pulling out of the station. Wallis felt excitement run through her like an electric current as she looked around the small compartment filled with her best friends. "Wallis, where's your prefect badge? I thought your letter said they made you a prefect?"

"They did, I just havent put it on yet. Infact,I really should go along to the end of the train, prefects are supposed to go and receive some talk and then walk up and down the aisle. I feel like a babysitter all ready. Stephen, would you take Lucy?" Wallis moaned as she handed Lucy to Stephen. She had completely forgotten about her prefect duties.

"We'll be there soon, don't worry." Rachel reminded her as she left the compartment. Wallis gave a small wave as she continued down to the end carriage of the train, suddenly becoming more consious of the number of people now staring at her walking down the train. She removed her prefect badge from her pocket qickly pinned it onto her jumper before entering the carriage.

After receiving a good fifteen minute lecture on what not to do as a prefect, Wallis quickly went to rejoin her friends and grab her robes, as she had been instructed to change into them before monitoring the aisle. After changing, Wallis joined her fellow Ravenclaw prefect, Malcolm Balfour, as they patrolled the aisle. Wallis had never really spoken to Malcolm before, which made the short conversation between the two very strained. Wallis also struggled to speak very much, as Malcom seemed very hapy talking about the successes of his family members. She never objected to this, as it allowed her mind to focus on ensuring everything was okay within the compartments. All she had to do was nod, or mutter "Yeah." Whenever Malcolm paused for breath.

After a few hours of sitting in the prefects compartment listening to endless droning - and an unschedueled train stop in the middle of nowhere, with the train in darkness and screaming coming from a few carriages, which had afterwards beenconfirmed as Dementors boarding the train in search for Sirius Black - Wallis was almost happy to find Fred and George Weasley in the next compartment as it was their turn to walk up and down the corridor of the train and supervise the students.

"And then of course my old father-" Wallis stopped as, who she guessed as Fred, beckoned her into the compartment. Quizzical, she cautiously opened the compartment doors. "You Weasley's aren't causing trouble are you? I'm in the middle of an intersting story." Malcolm sneered as he shot a look at Wallis, silently asking why she had opened their door.

"Yes, gripping." Wallis said, rolling her eyes. "What is it..?"

"Fred, again." Fred said with a slight smile. "I just want to give you something." He added. Wallis looked confused.

"It's not going to injure me is it?" She asked, knowing the Weasley Twin's reputation in pranking.

"Of course not." Said Fred.

"We're insulted!" George said, putting on a disgustingly innocent voice with his hand on his chest.

"Whatever it is, could you make it quicker? Wallis and I have responsibitlies." Malcolm whined.

"Tell you what, why don't you go fu-"

"Malcolm why don't you carry on and I'll catch up with you when I'm done?" Wallis said hastily, cutting of George. Malcolm removed his tensed grip from his wand as he turned and stalked out fo the compartment.

"Pratt." Fred proclaimed.

"Try marching up and down an enclosed space with him for hours." Wallis sighed. "So, what is it you're giving me exactly?"

"Not giving as much as-" Fred started.

"Returning." George finished. Fred reached up to his trunk and opened it. He fumbled around inside it for a moment and stopped.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands." Fred Instructed.

"I'm not sure.." Wallis said, warily.

"Come on, trust me it's not going to bite your head off. If I've grabbed the right one anyway.." He said, looking sheepish. Wallis eyes widened. "I'm kidding, come on trust me!" He laughed. Wallis cautiously held out her arms and half closed her eyes. She saw Fred placing a blurred object into her hands. She felt a leatherbound cover meet her hands and opened her eyes immediatly. Her copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them now sat in front of her.

"Oh my- Fred, you're a lifesaver! I thought I had lost it! Oh I could hug you!" She beamed. She caught sight of George smiling mischeviously in the corner, looking at Fred. "I'm going to pack this in my case, thanks again! I'll see you around." Wallis smiled as she turned to leave the compartment.

"Wallis hold on!" She turned on her heels, now facing the twins as she wondered which one had called after her.

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering, if maybe you'd like to come to Hogsmeade with Georgie and me?" Asked Fred. Wallis raised her eyebrows at the sudden gesture, but accepted it kindly.

"Of course, I'd love to." She smiled.

"Great." Fred beamed.

"Okay, I have to go now or Malcolm will complain or something.." Wallis sighed. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." Fred smiled.

"Bye, George." Wallis waved with a smile. He returned the wave as she finally left the compartment, walking quickly down the aisle to rejoin Stephen, Rachel and Luna.

She looked out the window of compartments as she passed them, seeing the hills and spreadout fields of the Glens. The sun was beginning to set over the far hills, causing the sky to burn orange. Wallis smiled to herself as she continued down the aisle, her book held tight in her hands.