Disclaimer: As I said before, I do not own any of these Harry Potter characters or places, except Kylie Demico.
Rap. Rap. Rap.
Kylie shifted, still half in sleep.
Rap! Rap! Rap!
A groan breathed from her parted lips and Kylie flashed her eyes open. "Alright, I'm coming Evina." Reluctantly Kylie swung her feet to meet floor and trudged to open the windows. The spotted owl gave a muffled hoot and swooped in to settle from a night's hunt. Kylie chuckled slightly as she watched her bird drop her catch and snuggle her beak into her wing for the routinely nap. "Not today Evina, Hogwarts." Kylie reminded her owl; Evina just hooted again.
Kylie made her way to the full body mirror that was situated on her closed door; pictures, cut outs and clips from her previous years at Hogwarts lined the glass's edge. But her eyes strayed to only one; the only picture left from her first year. A petite girl with wild locks of red hair and a girl still retaining some of her baby fat waved and grinned at Kylie. She couldn't help but give a small smile back.
Kylie returned to looking at her self image. In the six years after that photo had been taken, she had changed, drastically. Her maiden form was now slim and curves more prominent; she looked like the mature seventeen year old she should be. The oval of her face was smooth as she had grown out of the stage of unsightly blemishes two summers ago and the adolescent freckles had almost faded. Her skin was a pale fair, no matter how much sun she took in, she could never tan; the dark chocolate tresses of layered hair that usually tumbled just below her shoulder blades were pulled in a loose bun at the crown of her head. She rubbed the remaining of sleep from her eyes and turned to begin the morning routine.
Most of her things were already jammed into the trunk; her muggle clothes she had to wear to Kings Cross lay on top. She slipped on the articles quickly: jeans, a red tee frayed with gold pattern and a black jacket. For the third time she went back to the mirror.
Kylie focused on the features of her face; her need for cosmetics had lessened as she grew older. Eyes of pure crystal blue were lidded by full lashes, arched by dark eyebrows; she dabbed a touch of liner and mascara. She swept a light bronzer over her high cheek bones and jaw line, giving her skin the essence of glow. A shimmer of gloss went over her pastel cheery lips. Kylie brushed out her hair, replacing the bun with a high pony tail, pinning her bangs back.
As if on cue, the shrill of her mother's voice called through the door. "Kylie! Fifteen minutes before we leave!"
"Kay mum!" Kylie shouted back. It was just enough time to finish packing.
"Alright mum, you can let go now, it's not like I'm leaving for good." Kylie muttered through her mother's crushing hug.
"I know, it's just, this is your last year at Hogwarts and you've grown so much." Her mother crooned.
Kylie rolled her eyes but tried again to untangle herself from her mother's grasp; her fifth attempt finally succeeded. She started to roll her cart toward the concrete looking barrier between platforms nine and ten to escape another death defying embrace. "Don't worry, I'll write constantly to tell you everything's fine." Kylie called waving her hand back. She was picking up speed. "Bye mum!" And she sprinted through the wall in a flat out run.
The red steam engine looked as brilliant as ever, gleaming and billowing smoke. Crowds of students and parents seeing off their children mobbed Platform 9¾. Kylie moved slowly, veering around the witches and wizards, trying not to run over toes while keeping her luggage and owl all balanced. She scanned the throng, looking for her friend, best friend to be exact, but with no luck. The clock read ten till eleven. If I can't find her in the next five minutes, I'm boarding that train without her. Kylie decided, edging her way closer to the train.
Hands suddenly cloaked her eyes; Kylie yelped. "Guess who?" A badly faked voice giggled.
"Hey Lily." Kylie greeted knowingly, gently tugging off the girl's hands and turning to face her.
Lily Evans aka her best friend stood in front of her, happily smiling. She hadn't changed all that much, her hair was still a fiery red -Kylie liked to joke it matched her personality- falling in a slight wave to her mid back, her eyes were the same bottled green, and her figure small; the only difference was her height, but she seemed to get only half of a growth spurt.
"So, how was your summer?" Lily started conversation.
"Boring as ever. You?"
"Alright I guess. Potter kept owling, trying to ask me out, drove my sister crazy."
Kylie smiled and gave a laugh. Everyone in the whole school knew James Potter, quiddich all star, a Marauder himself, was madly in love with Lily; but Kylie was the only one who knew Lily didn't hate him whatsoever and that she was actually growing fond of him. "You know you like him." Kylie teased, "And you hate your sister. So it all worked out."
"I do not like him." Kylie sensed the undertone of a lie, it just made her smirk. "I don't!"
"Right." Sarcasm was laced in her voice.
"Let's just get on the train before it leaves." Lily turned on heel and pushed her cart to the Hogwarts Express.
Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and James Potter stood on the platform, resting against their luggage carts, waiting for the last of the Marauders. "If he isn't here in three minutes I swear I'll hex him into oblivion." James snapped, irritation that the last of their party Remus was making them wait for was getting the better of him.
"Give him a break Prongs." Remus tried to reason.
"Not a chance Moony, I'm sick of him being late."
"Yeah Moony, stop sticking up for him, you know he's useless." Sirius retorted, agreeing with his friend.
"A little harsh don't you think Padfoot?" Remus asked.
Sirius shrugged, glancing over the crowds; occasionally catching the eye of a girl he had flirted with in the past six years of his education. "Hey looky there Prongs, its Evans." Sirius pointed out, smirking. "How many times did you ask her out this summer?"
"Not that many times. She owled me back every time though. I think I'm wearing her down." James stated proudly, slightly puffing out his chest.
"And how many times did she say yes?" Remus asked.
"Way to blow it Moony." James deflated with a scowl, Sirius gave a boisterous laugh, and Remus curved a smirk.
"Face it Prongs, she's had six years to say yes to a date with you. If she loved you back like you say she does, she would've said yes by now, don't you think?" Sirius taunted humorously.
"H-hey you g-guys, s-s-sorry I'm l-late." The rat like boy came up from behind, wheezing and grabbing his side.
The three boys turned to see the Peter Pettigrew, the Marauder they were waiting for. "Let's just get on the train." James still had a somewhat flat voice as he wheeled his baggage toward the express. They followed in procession; Peter, Remus and…
"Padfoot." James looked back to see the shaggy boy still standing in the exact place they had left him; he was staring into the groups of people.
"Watcha looking at Padfoot?" Remus asked; he and James left their trunks at the doors with Peter and went back to Sirius.
"Who is she?" Sirius murmured.
"That would be James's supposed love and Head Girl Lily Evans." Remus replied.
"I know that, no, I'm talking about the brunette." Sirius snapped.
For a moment they stood their, trying to figure who the girl was. Remus was the first to get it, he chuckled lightly. "You can't be serious, you don't know who that is?" He asked.
"Who is it?" Sirius demanded.
"I can't believe you don't remember her." Remus turned to James. "You remember that girl, don't you Prongs?" James still looked confused, but tried to play along. "That girl, the one Padfoot dated in his first year, the only relationship he's had for more than a month." It dawned on James; Sirius still looked absolutely bewildered.
"Oh yeah, I remember her, what was her name…"
In unison, "Kylie Demico."
It took Sirius a couple seconds to register, and then his mouth dropped. "Bloody hell." He muttered, "That's Demico?" The two boys on his right and left rolled their eyes, but nodded. "Damn, she looks different, she looks hot."
"Come on Padfoot, let's get on the train, you can fantasize there." James steered his friend around and back to their things.
Sirius took a glimpse back to see the two girls boarding. "So, what do you think my chances are with her?"
"Padfoot, tell me you're not interested in her again." Remus said.
"Why not?"
"Dude, you broke up with her." James pointed out.
"That was a long time ago. Besides, things have changed, she's changed."
Remus rolled his eyes again. "Please Padfoot, you have about as much chance with her as Prongs has with Lily." Sirius chuckled, James glowered. "Let's just get on the train now." They grabbed their carts from Peter and boarded.