AB INITIO

THE FALCONERS FOOT

When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy-
In the company of strangers ; In the quiet of the railway station running scared

Simon and Garfunkel

PART ONE

Talia-Rose generally didn't run into walls; but this was a different matter all together.

"Jeremy, I'm...not sure about this." She supplied, as her brother led her towards Kings Cross station.

"I know, I know. Just give it a try, you know? Trust me; you won't want to come back." He gave a smile which she thought looked a little bit sad, drawn out. Of course, of course she'd want to come home. Even after their Mom died, and they were left to fend for themselves, her home had been and always would be her sanctuary.

Talia shook her head at her brother, thinking him mad for suggesting such a thing, and sighed heavily, clutching at the falcon perched in his cage, gazing up at her with his large, golden eyes. Nerves roiled deep within her stomach, springing from the fear of a friendless school life-much like her current life-or failure at magical studies itself. Joke of the School, she imagined herself running back to her brother, 9 years her senior, all too soon, and fixed her eyes on her late birthday present.

"Ah, Ic, you're gonna have to keep me amused. Bring me rats to eat."She cooed to the bird, who clicked his beak and beat his wings in front of him, before settling back down and ruffling his feathers up.

"You'll be fine-and don't forget to stay on the professors good side- it won't do you any good otherwise, girl."

"Yeah, yeah, you did tell me. Is the food good, Jer?" Her brother split a grin as they entered the multitude of people rushing for trains at Kings Cross, stopping just short of platform 9.

"It's excellent. Now. You'd better, ah, go." He handed the small girl with dark hair and large eyes her suitcase, and gave her a warm bear hug. Emotional good-byes weren't either of their specialities, but they embraced for a while longer than usual, and Talia felt her heart aching for her brother that had kept her safe all these years.

"Have a good one!" He called after his sister, and the grin that flashed across her face to cover her nerves was the last thing he saw before she disappeared through the brick wall he'd only stopped going through three years ago.

PART TWO

"I said get off Regulus! For Merlin's sake, I'm not leaving forever!" Sirius Black exclaimed, prying his brother off of him and giving his father one final handshake before departing to the bright red train on platform 9 ¾.

"See you at Christmas, son." His father told him, and Sirius nodded, running a hand through his already unruly locks and turned to heave his luggage onto the train.
"Ouch!" Sirius turned on his heel, leaning in the doorway of the train on his suitcase to see what he'd already done.

"Oh-ah, sorry..." He was about to say more when he looked up at the striking young girl standing before him; there was no doubt in his mind that she was muggle born, and an image suddenly popped to mind of his mother screaming at him for befriending such a person, but he couldn't help himself.

"Sirius Black, at your service, ma'am." He stuck out his hand, flicking his head to the right to get the fringe out of his eyes and grinning what he thought was his most dazzling grin.

"My foot, you idiot. I-"
"And who might you be, may I ask?" He spoke with false formality, grinning all the while, completely aware of the sharp-beaked-wide-eyed falcon clicking its tongue at him, not so unlike the girl herself.

The girl, taking no time to miss the train who's whistle had already blown, huffed and took no time in dragging her suitcase and expensive looking falcon after her as she ran to another entrance, while calling over her shoulder;

"Not that it's any of your business, short-stuff, but Talia-Rose!"

Sirius' grins slipped from his face at the mention of his height (or lack of it), and he sighed, sinking into a state of temporary thoughtfulness.

"Well, nice to meet you, too, Talia Rose."