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Claimer: I own my OCs, story plotline and anything else in the story you can't recognize. So please ask before using.
"Crossing Threshold,"
Chapter 1 "Hogwarts Express,"
"Morning, morning, morning,"
Annalise's eyes fluttered open. She had her mum bewitch her alarm clock to sing morning. She swung her legs over the edge of her bed and turned off the alarm clock.
While, Susan rolled over in her bed on the other side of the room and covered her head with her pillow. Annalise opened up her dresser and pulled out the first thing she found.
After showering she went back into her room to brush her hair and decided if she wanted to do anything else to her outfit, she wanted to look nice today. It was the first day of her fourth year of Hogwarts.
She brushed out her wavy golden blond hair that just touched her shoulder. She opened her jewellery box and put on a pair of hanging blue beaded earrings that had once belonged to her Aunt Marlene. She put on her locket that had the photograph of her, her mum and her dad in it. She looked in the mirror and pressed on the lengthy short-sleeved bluish green shirt she had on, she had always liked things that were long on her, especially now since she had 'filled out' as her mum put it.
"Su, time to get up," said Annalise.
"Mum," said Susan rubbing her eyes.
"Su, no it's Anna," said Annalise frowning.
She knew that Susan had been dreaming about her parents again. She knew how much it hurt not having a dad but not having her mum too would be hell. She never let Susan know how much she pitied her because she knew that Susan hated pity.
"I'm getting up," said Susan getting out of bed.
Annalise quickly made her bed and went downstairs. Her mum had two plates of pancakes and two cups of milk already at the breakfast bar. She sat down to her normal eating spot and started to eat.
"Is Susan up yet?" asked Amelia walking in from the archway that led into the living room.
"She just got up," said Annalise.
"You look nice dear," said Amelia.
"Thanks mum," said Annalise.
"Marlene's old earrings, right?" asked Amelia.
"Yup," said Annalise.
"They look as good on you as they did on her," said Amelia.
Annalise just smiled. Her mum often said things like that. She didn't need to be told she looked like her dad's side of the family, she already knew. She often looked at the pictures and saw how similar she looked to them. That's also how she figured out why she had such a different body type of Susan and her mum.
"Mum, you might need to buy me new clothes soon. I'm having a bit of issue with fitting into clothes," said Annalise turning bright red.
"Jeeze, I swear I'm buying new clothes every other month for six months now," said Amelia.
"Way to boost my self-confidence mum," said Annalise rolling her eyes.
"Trust me Anna; you'll be glad you're curvier as you get older. Wizards who have more of a magical influence like girls who are curvier. They are sort of taught to look for girls who are curvier for children purposes," said Amelia.
"Mum, you make it sound like they are choosing mates to breed with for Merlin's sake," said Anna.
Amelia laughed. She would have told Anna how much she sounded like her father right there but didn't because she knew that Anna knew that. It made her worry sometimes since she knew how much trouble Daniel had gotten into at times, she only hoped that Anna didn't get into as much trouble.
"Good morning Susan," said Amelia.
"Morning Auntie," said Susan.
"So what's the plan for today?" asked Anna.
"Well, we'll hang around here for a bit then stop in Diagon Alley for a few minutes then go to Kings Cross," said Amelia.
"Su, it might help if you used the other end of the spoon to eat with," said Anna.
"That might help," said Susan rolling her eyes at Anna.
Anna stuck out her tongue then laughed. Amelia smiled softly watching the two girls remembering how close she had been with Edgar. She was glad Susan and Anna reminded her of those she lost, it kept her going to know they lived on in the girls.
"After you girls get packed I have a few things to give you," said Amelia.
"Alright," said Anna and Susan in unison.
They looked at each other and started to laugh. Amelia couldn't help not laughing too. For some reason if one of them started to laugh they all did. They always joked it was something defective with Bones witches.
Soon after Anna was upstairs packing her truck. She didn't pack her uniforms since her mum told her they'd get new ones for her at Diagon Alley. She made sure to wrap her jewellery box in her house scarf so it wouldn't break. She always packed her teddy bear her dad had given her on her first Christmas and her photo album full of pictures of those who weren't in her life anymore. She made sure that she had everything else that she needed before taking her trunk downstairs.
Susan hadn't taken half as long since she usually only packed enough school supplies to only last a few months while Anna packed enough to last until Christmas. She also didn't have to figure out what clothes fitted or not.
"You're down here at last," said Amelia.
"Now, Su this is for you. It belonged to your father. I believe it shrinks down to fit in your truck if you want," said Amelia giving Susan a guitar that had Edgar and Helena forever burned in the body of it.
Susan ran her hand over the neck and down the strings of the guitar. Tears formed in her eyes. This was the first sentimental thing she had gotten that had belonged to her father; she had tons of her mother's but none of her dad's until now.
"Will it go back to normal without magic?" asked Susan.
"If I remember correctly your father put a spell on it so that will change it back and forth to sizes if you want. All you'd have to do is say change in a firm voice and it will change," said Amelia.
"Change," said Susan in the firmest tone she could.
The guitar changed sizes on command. Susan opened her trunk and put it inside. Amelia then handed Susan a book that looked like a journal that Susan also put in her trunk without really looking at it.
"Now, Anna, let me go get it," said Amelia.
Amelia came back with a shoebox and gave it to Anna.
"Great mum, just what I wanted a shoebox," said Anna in a joking manner.
Amelia chuckled at her daughter. While Susan just rolled her eyes. Leave it to Anna to make a joke out of a serious matter.
"Open it on the train so remember to take it out of your trunk before getting on the train," said Amelia.
"I will," said Anna.
"Now, we better go get Anna knew uniforms," said Amelia.
"I don't think Professor Dumbledore would like it if I didn't wear a uniform all year," said Anna.
Amelia reduced the size of the trunks for less of a hassle since she didn't want to come back to the house. The girls put them in their jean pockets for safe keeping. All three of them left for Diagon Alley.
Amelia didn't waste much time getting to Madame Malkin's since she didn't want to cut time close. Madame Malkin didn't take much time fitting Anna either. Anna hated being fitted for anything and Susan was bored to tears.
The got to King's Cross in a timely manner even taking a muggle taxi. Anna took out the shoe box as Susan got ready to cross the barrier. She was looking forward to seeing what's in it but before crossing the barrier she turned toward her mum.
"Hey, mum, why did you put a dress in my trunk?" asked Anna seeing a light blue dress on top of all her clothes.
"You'll find out," said Amelia as Susan crossed the barrier.
Anna didn't ask anything more knowing her mum wouldn't answer. She crossed the barrier with ease, it had become much more natural since Susan and she had first cross four years ago.
Amelia fallowed right behind Anna. Anna knew the drill when it came to giving your luggage. Her first year she panicked because she thought her luggage was being stolen; her mum had to explain what was going on.
"Susan!" called a female voice.
"Hey there Hannah," said Susan as she was hugged tightly and suddenly by her blond haired friend.
"Susan, take care," said Amelia as Hannah started to drag her away.
"I will!" called Susan as she was being pulled onto the train.
"Be careful and try not to get into too much trouble. I aged twenty years last year," said Amelia softly.
"Don't worry mum, I will be," said Anna.
"Amelia," said a female voice.
"Augusta, how nice to see you," said Amelia.
Augusta had on a dark green dress along with her hat with the stuffed vulture on it. She also had her bright red handbag.
"So you must be Annalise. Not quite the way Neville described you," said Augusta.
Anna knew she was meaning her body shape. She was still trying to fight off the thought of the Boggart session last year; she knew she'd laugh if she thought of it. Her mum would kill her if she did that.
"She's changed a lot this summer," said Amelia.
"Where is the other one?" asked Augusta.
"Already ran off with her friends," said Amelia.
"You're quite a striking girl for your age," said Augusta.
"She definitely got many of the McKinnon traits," said Amelia.
"The Bones females have always had small frames," said Augusta recalling Amelia's mother and grandmother.
"They're also a lot taller which makes them seem smaller," said Anna finally finding her voice.
"And the girl speaks," said Augusta.
"I chose my words wisely," said Anna.
Amelia tried not to smirk. She knew that Augusta would like Anna for her pure spunk. Most girls would have been super polite, not Anna.
"You do remind me much of your grandmother and aunt. The shapely body tone, medium height and those bright blue eyes. You definitely have the McKinnon look. But you have your mother's hair," said Augusta.
"I may look like a combination of two families but doesn't mean I act like both," said Anna getting irritated from being compared to her family.
"I never said you acted like both," said Augusta with a chuckle "no, no, personality wise you're all McKinnon. Only a McKinnon would stand up when being compared to everyone else."
Anna got it that it was all a test. Augusta had wanted to get her to realise that feisty McKinnon nature. She should have expected her to do that but she had underestimated the older women.
"It must be difficult being the only Bones heir to be put in Gryffindor and the only McKinnon heir left," said Augusta.
"Not really. First off no one really even knows I'm a McKinnon and secondly I've always been different so why not act like it," said Anna.
"You must have your hands full Amelia," said Augusta.
"You have no idea," said Amelia.
"I better get on the train," said Anna moving toward the train.
"I love you, Anna, remember to write," said Amelia not afraid to tell the whole Platform she loved her daughter.
"I will!" called out Anna as she stepped on the train.
"Why didn't you keep the McKinnon name for her?" asked Augusta.
"I thought it would protect her. She can take it back anytime she wants, if she just asks," said Amelia.
Those were the last words Anna heard as she got on the train. Her heart felt this odd feeling of being torn two different ways. She didn't understand what it meant but knew she had never felt it before.
Anna found Ginny in a compartment with a blond haired girl she hadn't met before. She decided to go sit with Ginny instead of Seamus and Dean like she normally did. It would just be awkward.
"Hey, Anna," said Ginny.
"Hey, Ginny," said Anna sitting down next to Ginny.
"Anna this is Luna. Luna this is Anna," said Ginny "her real name is Annalise but she hates how people pronounce it."
"Are you Scottish?" asked Luna.
"Half," said Anna.
"You look Scottish," said Luna.
"Thanks," said Anna not really knowing what to say.
"You look different," said Ginny still trying to figure out how.
Anna chewed on the inside of her lip. She wondered how awkward this was going to be.
"You're wearing makeup and earrings," said Ginny "since when do you wear makeup?"
"I do but not enough to make much of a defence but my cheeks got really rosy this summer so I tried to blend them to match the rest of my skin tone," said Anna.
"I like your outfit," said Luna "where did you get it?"
"It was in a muggle thrift shop. I only shop at thrift shops for clothes; clothes there have so much more character then department stores," said Anna.
"You're wearing a bra," said Ginny out of nowhere.
Anna turned bright red. She couldn't imagine how horrid that would have been with Seamus and Dean. She was self-conscious enough about it without people looking at her in that area.
"Ginny, you don't just go saying stuff like that. But yes I am, sort of need to now," said Anna.
"You didn't even need a training bra last year. What's the big deal, we're all girls here," said Ginny.
"I guess the hormones just stared to work," said Anna "but hopefully that doesn't mean I've be these short the rest of my life."
"You're not that short," said Luna.
"I am compared to my mum and cousin," said Anna.
"But they're also both tall and skinny," said Ginny.
Anna sighed. She knew that it was a lost cause. She didn't see the point in arguing what was better being skinny or curvy when it was an endless argument.
Sometime after the train left the station Anna opened up the box. She found journals that had belonged to her Aunt Marlene and dad. She also found a butterfly hair piece and a photograph with the whole McKinnon family including herself, as a baby. She took out the photograph and put it in her pocket. She left to put the box back into her trunk; she knew were they stored the trunks.
By the time she got back Neville had joined Luna and Ginny. She sat down without a word. Ginny gave Anna a questioning look but didn't get a reaction.
"How was your summer, Neville?" asked Ginny.
"Boring," said Neville.
"The Quidditch Cup wasn't that fun once the Death Eaters decided to show up," said Ginny.
"That was wonderful," said Anna rolling her eyes.
"I didn't see Susan with you and your mum at the cup," said Ginny.
"She didn't want to come," said Anna.
"My mum and I had a lovely conversation with your gran on the platform," said Anna to Neville.
"She didn't insult you, did she?" asked Neville concerned.
"No. She was just getting a kick out of getting reactions out of me. Plus my mum and I are thick skinned," said Anna.
"That's good," said Neville.
"It is entertaining getting you mad," said Ginny.
"It's all fun and games until I use my wand," joked Anna.
"Seamus and Dean are looking for you," said Neville.
"If they want to find me they will come looking," said Anna.
"It's not like your world revolves around them," said Ginny.
"They day that I hit that low I will be the day that Firewhisky doesn't burn," said Anna.
"How would you know it burns?" asked Ginny.
"I have ways," said Anna.
Anna started to stare at the odd magazine Luna was reading. She had never seen anything like it before.
"It's the Quibbler, Luna's dad owns it," whispered Neville.
Anna nodded softly. She went back to the photograph. She starred at them, they had all looked so happy. She traced the outline of each of them. She saw that Marlene had been wearing the earrings she had on. The thought that Marlene would be wearing them right now if she was alive made her tear up.
"Anna, are you okay?" asked Neville.
"Yeah," said Anna her voice cracking a bit.
Neville lent forward to see what Anna was looking at but she put it away before he could see. She remembered how last year when that Dementor had boarded the train how she swore she could hear screaming. She knew that it was a memory of someone she saw die, she guessed it was one of the McKinnons but she had yet to figure out who.
The rest of the train ride flew by. Anna nearly ran into Seamus and Dean getting off of the train.
"Where were you, lass?" asked Seamus.
"Hanging around," said Anna.
"We missed you over at our compartment," said Dean.
"We have all year to hang out," said Anna
"Yeah, but we always sit in the same compartment," said Seamus.
"I'm not some dog. I don't sit where you tell me too," said Anna running after Ginny.
"Did she just blow us off?" asked Seamus.
"I think so," said Dean.
Anna joined Ginny, Neville and Luna on their carriage to Hogwarts. She tried not to stare at thestral since it would look like she was stupid starring at the air.
"Who did you see die?" whispered Luna.
"A few," said Anna remembering the time she saw that poor muggle girl get hit by a car.
Anna had a feeling this year was going to be different. She didn't mind change but she hoped it wouldn't be too much change. She did like having a comfort zone that was always the same.
Please review. This chapter is longer than most of them will be but there was a lot I wanted to use. Let me know if I missed any mistakes or you want to Belta this story.
