Ariella dashed aboard the train. Her suitcase held, together by only a thin string, clattered and clanged with every ascending step. A spare sock wormed its way loose in the commotion.

Ariella, oblivious to the small trail of clothing she left behind, did not bother to check over her shoulder for Arik.

He followed her. He always did.

Several people hastily threw themselves against the sides of the cramped corridor to make way for the girl. Arik turned his dark stare on anyone who shot the girl a nasty look behind her back. He simultaneously gathered his sister's littered clothing in his arms.

Afloat with dizzying excitement, Ariella darted within the first empty compartment she happened across. She cast her luggage aside, and the straining string snapped. The lid sprung open and showered the plush seats with her remaining clothes.

Naturally, Ariella remained oblivious to the mess she left behind. Instead, she busied herself with climbing atop her seat and leaning from the open window. Her warm, brown eyes flickered across the platform, searching for her parents.

Arik dumped his armful of Ariella's clothes onto the nearest seat and copied his twin in searching for their parents. (Though he chose to peer safely from the closed, bottom window.)

"Bye, Mum! Bye, Dad!" Ariella finally crowed as she caught sight of the pair.

A slender woman with kind, hazel eyes waved eagerly in reply. Her warm, brown face shone with pride as her babies boarded the Hogwarts Express for the first time.

A man with handsome, black curls wrapped an arm around her as he, too, smiled toward his children. His brown eyes twinkled in amusement at his wife's eagerness. His mouth opened, and though they couldn't hear it, the twins both knew he was laughing.

Ariella thought she would miss the sound of her father's deep, booming laughter most of all.

Arik pressed his hand against the window, his eyes hungrily drinking in his parents' faces as the train began to pull away. Their father's large, calloused hand was the last thing they saw, waving at them above the crowd before the train turned a corner.

"Goodbye," he whispered.

"Oh, Arik," Ariella huffed, "At least try to look happy. We've dreamt of this day for as long as we can remember!"

Arik turned as his sister plopped into her seat. Several raven-colored curls flopped into her face at the action. He couldn't help but smile.

"I know, but I'll miss them."

She rolled her eyes in exasperation. Sometimes her brother could be so dramatic. "They'll write to us every day. Trust me, you won't have time to miss them."

At that precise moment, the compartment door slid open.

Arik raised an eyebrow at the meek, tawny-haired boy lingering in the doorway, meanwhile Ariella offered him a small smile.

The boy's amber eyes shifted between the pair before dropping to the floor.

He must be shy, Ariella thought.

But, as she followed his gaze, she realized with a start that her clothes were strewn across the compartment.

"Oh– Sorry 'bout that." She dove to her knees and hastily shoved the items back into the confines of her busted suitcase. "The lock on this thing is quite temperamental."

"Perhaps if you folded your clothes neatly, instead of stuffing them in 'till the case was ready to burst..." Arik trailed off.

Ariella shot her twin a look.

Leaping back to her feet, she shoved the suitcase in its designated compartment. Arik eyed her muddy shoes disdainfully before mimicking her actions and placing his suitcase in its place.

Finally returning her curious gaze to the stranger, Ariella found that he had curled into the corner seat furthest from the twins.

"We don't bite."

The boy glanced up. His eyes widened in the hope that he hadn't insulted them. His worry vanished as he found the pair eyeing him with matching looks of amusement. Relaxing back into the plump cushions, he smiled.

"Well, maybe I do."

The twins shared a look before erupting into nearly identical laughs. The stranger grinned shyly.

"I'm Ariella Rune," she extended her hand.

The boy eyed the appendage for a moment before gripping it in his own, "Remus Lupin."

"And this is my brother," she gestured toward him, "Arik."

"Older brother," Arik corrected.

"By like two seconds."

"More like sixty seconds."

Remus ducked behind his book to muffle his laughter.

Ariella craned her neck to peer at the book, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?"

Remus nodded hesitantly, worried the two wouldn't recognize his beloved muggle book.

"Did you know that Lewis Carrol was a wizard?"

Remus blinked in surprise.

"Was not," Arik frowned at his sister.

"Was too," she scowled at him. Her mouth puckered into a thoughtful purse, "Or he at least knew about wizards. Four of his thirteen diaries went missing and he was half mad by the time he died." She said as she returned her attention to Remus whose head tilted in interest. Dropping her voice as if she were revealing a great secret, she said, "I think the Ministry of Magic took his work and obliviated the poor bloke for his discovery."

"You think," Arik reiterated.

"Sounds a little far-fetched to me," Remus finally spoke. A pleasant smile lingering on his face as he closed the book.

Ariella scowled as the two teamed up on her. She opened her mouth to reply when the compartment door slid open once more, recapturing their attention.

A boy with rosy cheeks and mousy, brown hair stumbled in. A bag slung over his shoulder ripped as it caught on the doorjamb. Books, parchment, and candy wrappers suddenly littered the floor.

"Oh, Merlin!" The boy moaned as he clumsily gathered his belongings.

Finally, the plump boy straightened to find the trio within the compartment watching him with raised brows and twitching lips.

The boy's blue eyes flickered from Remus to the twins. At first glance, he thought they were identical with their black curls and matching worn outfits, but, as he drew the courage to meet their gaze, he noted that one was a boy and the other a girl. He quickly dropped his gaze from Ariella and tugged at his snug sweater self-consciously. He rocked back on his heels as if debating making a hasty retreat.

"Well," Ariella tilted her head, "are you gonna take a seat or not?"

The boy's cheeks burned even brighter as he flung himself into the seat across from Remus. An awkward silence filled the compartment as all eyes trained on the newcomer.

"Do you have a name?" Ariella broke the silence again.

"Of course." The boy shot her a strange look.

"Well?" She quirked an eyebrow expectantly.

"Oh! I-it's Peter," he all but squeaked. "Peter Pettigrew," he finished more quietly.

Remus smiled kindly, Ariella bit back a laugh, and Arik turned his nose up at the fumbling boy. Nevertheless, introductions were made, and the group of first years made polite conversation for a while.

They were interrupted for a third time by an elderly woman with a trolley full of snacks.

Ariella and Peter were the first to their feet; both of their pudgy tummies rumbling at the sight.

After their snack, consisting of several chocolate frogs, a couple of skiving snack boxes, and even an exploding bonbon, the group fell into a comfortable silence.

Peter dozed off, his chocolate stained lips smacking together every now and then. Remus buried his nose in his book, and Arik watched in amusement as Ariella attempted some basic spells from her Charms textbook. By the time the Hogwarts Express had arrived at its destination, the only thing Ariella had managed to do was break into a sweat.

"Who knew spells were so exhausting," she wiped her forehead with a sigh.

"If by spells you mean jabbing your wand and grunting, then yes, spells are exhausting," Arik grinned.

The group made their way off the train where they were greeted by the largest man they had ever seen.

"It's rude to stare," Arik whispered.

Ariella snapped her mouth shut, her eyes still wide as saucers.

"Who's that?!"

"He's monstrous!"

"Has he heard of a razor?"

Whispers broke out among the group of quivering first years, though they soon hushed as the man of interest approached, the pavement beneath their feet trembling the closer he drew.

"Firs' years this way!" The man bellowed. "Firs' years over here!"

Ariella started towards the man as her brother trailed her with a wary eye, Remus and Peter were forgotten in the crowd. The twins came to a stop; Ariella stretched to the tips of her toes to get a closer look.

"Elle," Arik hissed, "Stop that. You're acting as if he's an animal on display at the zoo."

He tugged on her sleeve, forcing her to rock back on the heels of her feet.

"Do you remember that story mum told us? 'Bout the old man and the deer?" Ariella turned to him breathlessly, choosing to ignore his reprimanding tone.

"Santa Claus?" Arik clarified with a bewildered look.

"That one!" Her eyes lit up. "This man is everything I imagined Santa Claus to be! With the great big beard, the rosy cheeks, and the round belly," she paused. Her lips lifted into a sly grin, "Wonder if we'll be getting to the castle by reindeer?"

Arik snorted; Ariella grinned, pleased with herself for extracting the crass sound from her, otherwise, well-mannered brother.

The giant man announced that the first years would be taking boats to the castle.

"Well, that's not nearly as exciting," she pouted.

"Perhaps there will be gifts waiting in the boats," Arik nudged her with his elbow, successfully eliciting an amused smile.

There was a mad dash for the boats; the air electric with excitement.

Ariella shoved her way to an empty boat and clambered aboard, her brother right behind her.

A pale boy with blonde hair and rosy cheeks introduced himself as Liam Odhran; he would be their third and final companion. Ariella attempted to strike up a conversation, but the boy seemed more content to sit in silence. Besides, once the boats began to move they were too awed to do much speaking.

Ariella whirled around to gape at the massive and mysterious lake. Meanwhile, Arik took notice of Remus and Peter who joined a boat further down the shore. Its occupants: two rowdy boys intent on seeing how far they could rock the boat before it tipped. Suddenly, Arik was extremely glad for their amiably, boring boat mate.

The flock of boats slid soundlessly across the surface of the lake. Shining lanterns and stars dotted the dark expanse of the water's surface. The dark waters below mirrored the sky overhead.

The twins had the sudden impression that they were drifting across the cosmos. Collective gasps caused everyone's heads to turn. Ariella tugged her eyes from the mesmerizing reflection of the water to gape at the sight before her.

It was love at first sight for the first years.

Against the dark sky, the outline of a massive castle appeared before them. Gothic towers reached for the heavens while glittering candles illuminated each stone-arched window. The massive structure beckoned the star-struck first years; the boats seemed to pick up speed at the magical sight, carrying the fledging students closer towards their looming futures.

*

stariella

*edited 6/23/19*