Chapter 1: The Art of Making Friends

Okay, here's the next chapter of The Sorceress. Once again, I do not own Harry Potter, I only own Sabrina and any other unfamiliar characters. So please, if you would like to use Sabrina or any of my other characters, please send me a message and ask me? I would most appreciate it!

Thanks again to D. Lazy Bat for helping me with proof reading! You are totally awesome!

Alright, on with the tale!


Chapter 1: The Art of Making Friends

Several months later: September 1st:

Sabrina hefted her knap-sack onto her back as she opened her compartment door. Students of all ages rushed past her before she was able to join the flock filling out of the train. She glanced up and dimly saw the carriages waiting patiently for their passengers to board.

The rain poured down around her, bouncing harmlessly off her raincoat. "Sabrina, Sabrina Owens!" a voice called through the curtains of water. She unmistakingly saw the tops of the soaked, red-headed Weasly twins waving towards her. "There's room for one more! Come on, hurry up!"

Running towards the carriage, she jumped in with the help of Fred while one of the other passengers closed the door. Settling down in between the twins, Sabrina shivered as she glanced towards the other passengers. One was Lee Jordan, the twins' best friend, of whom she met last year. She liked the fifteen-year-old boy; like the twins, he treated her as a little sister.

She glanced at the other three students, knowing them by name only. The boy with the jet-black hair and lightening scar was the famous Harry Potter. The other two were his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly.

Sabrina gazed at the last passenger: a man who looked several years older that he actually was. Scars riddled his still-handsome face and his eyes reflected a softness that reminded her of the fur of a wolf cub she once saved. The man seemed familiar, but she couldn't seem to place him. So she put it aside in her mind for now.

"Sabrina, where were you? I was hoping you'd sit with us," Fred asked, breaking the girl's thoughts.

"It was crowded and I needed to get away from it. So I slipped into an empty compartment and read the whole way here," she answered very softly, her voice barely audible over the pounding rain.

"Did you see the dementors? Did they come after you?" George pressed about the foul creatures from earlier in the trip still on his mind. Sabrina shook her head.

"I merely put up a Shield Spell that Aunt Lizzie taught me. Deters dementors up until the time I learn how to perform a Patronus."

"Wish I knew that spell," Harry Potter spoke up. "Might've helped me earlier." Sabrina smiled slightly fingering her bag nervously.

"Anyway," Lee interrupted. "I believe it's high time we introduce Miss Owens here to our famous passengers. Sabrina, this is Harry Potter, Ron Weasly, and Hermione Granger." The twins nodded.

"Harry and Hermione are good friends of our family. And Ron is our little brother," George added.

Sabrina nodded, feeling again unsure of herself. She started to withdraw when the man spoke up from his corner of the carriage. "And I am Remus J. Lupin. I'm going to be your Defense teacher this year." Sabrina looked up suddenly as the name clicked with the face.

"Remus Lupin?" Lupin nodded with a slightly confused smile. "My mother told me much about you. You were in her year during school. She said that you were both really good friends." Remus smiled widely, recognition sinking in.

"Ahh, Sarah Owens. What a beauty she was too. Very beautiful. Still is, I imagine. And you must be her little girl, Sabrina. It's no wonder I didn't recognize you. Last I saw you; you were at least five or six. Tell me, how are your aunts doing at this time?"

"My aunts are fine. They've been raising me since the Potions accident three years ago. My mother's been in the hospital since then." Remus casted his eyes down in sorrow. He knew about the accident, it had been all over the papers three years back.

"I'm sorry about that, Sabrina. I hope she gets better," Harry replied softly. Sabrina shrugged as Fred rubbed her back in comforting circles. Just then, her bag rustled, startling everyone but Sabrina.

"What's in there, Sabrina?" Hermione asked.

"My kitten. I just got her, so I haven't thought up a name yet. Want to see her?" Everyone nodded as Sabrina lifted the black kitten out of the bag. The sleepy kitten yawned and opened its eyes, flashing violet orbs across the carriage.

"She's adorable, Sabrina. Can I hold her?" Hermione asked. Sabrina hesitated before nodding, giving the cat to the genius brunette.

"Don't you have a cat already, Hermione, without turning that one against Scabbers?" Ron snapped suddenly. The brunette flashed a dangerous look back towards him.

"Would you two lay off on that? You're going to scare Sabrina away," George scowled, tired of hearing the same argument for the past couple days. Hermione handed Sabrina back her kitten, who she carefully placed in her backpack as the carriage slowed to a stop.

"Sorry Sabrina," Ron blushed slightly. Sabrina nodded, just wanting to get out of the carriage. Fred helped her out and everyone ran inside the castle. Harry caught up to her and touched her on the shoulder, gaining her attention.

"How about you come and sit with us?"

"Oh yes Sabrina! We would love it!" Hermione exclaimed. Sabrina hesitated, something that Lupin, who was behind her, did not miss.

"Sure, I guess I could." The others nodded and proceeded into the Great Hall. Sabrina went to follow, but was held up by Lupin.

"Sabrina, before I leave you my dear, I would like to say something."

"Yes, Professor?" Lupin smiled softly at the mention of the title.

"Making friends is an art. Some are naturally gifted with it and others have to learn it. When I was in school, I was just like you: the invisible wallflower. But it was your mother, among my other friends, who helped me learn how to make friends and be confident in whom I am."

"Don't let these potential friendships like the Weaslys and Potter slip away. Especially Potter. People like them don't come by too often. Snatch them up when you find them. I'm glad I did and I have no regrets from it. And if you want to talk, just knock on my door and we'll talk? Understand?" Sabrina nodded. Lupin smiled as Harry waved at her from the table. "Alright, now go eat dinner. And I remember what I said." Sabrina nodded and left the Gryffindor table, smiling her thanks as she left. Lupin smiled wider before he left to join the other teachers at the head table.


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