September 1, 1992 - Kings Cross Station
Philomena Black was entirely lost as she entered the train station. How on earth she was supposed to get onto a "Platform 9 ¾" completely alluded her. Her Uncle was passed out on the couch, reeking of firewhisky from the night before, last she saw, so he was of no help. She was on her own, per usual. She had gotten up at some ungodly hour this morning to take extra care to cover her scars, double check her things, and look her absolute best. At Beauxbatons, how you looked on the first day meant everything. It was a show of power of sorts. How you looked and acted determined your social status for the year, and impacted the years following. After all of that, she had left her Uncle's London townhouse at 10:30 that morning to take the Knight Bus to the station.
This all led up to her currently wandering around platforms 9 and 10, looking for someone from her world to direct her on how to get onto this platform. She could almost hear Sirius' barking laughs at her predicament. She was 14 years old for Merlin's sake! She should be able to find her way onto a bloody platform to go to school.
Everything was so much easier at Beauxbatons.
She could almost imagine what it would've been like if they hadn't died. How her and Jason would be pushing their carts side by side down the platform, her parents, Lily, James, Harry, and Sirius trailing behind them. How her parents would be able to show her onto the platform, giving her one last encouraging smile before she crossed to the other side.
"-muggles never realize what's going on." Mae was pulled from her daydreams of that perfect world that would be forever out of her grasp.
Shaking her head, she looked around. There was a couple who were walking with who she presumed to be their son towards what she hoped was Platform 9 ¾. The boy was pushing a cart with a trunk and owl cage, and Mae was filled suddenly with a feeling that she couldn't identify at first. Relief.
She was quick to follow the boy, who was extremely handsome and appeared to be about her age. A quick glance at his trunk informed her that his initials were CD. Well that's bloody helpful.
The family stopped between two pillars, and the boy happened to glance around, catching her watching him. His smile lit up his whole face at seeing her, even though he had no clue who she was, and he said, "You can go first."
"That's alright." She said, pasting a small smile on her face. There was no way she was going to show weakness. If she was going to be stuck in this school for four years, they weren't going to be spent as a loner. She would need something to take her mind off of things, and Merlin knew that her studies alone weren't going to cut it.
He seemed to be evaluating her for a second, and he finally said, "You're new here, aren't you."
She tried not to cringe. Her year wasn't going to go well if she was already so easily pegged as an outsider. Great. "Yes, I just transferred from Beauxbatons."
"And you're all alone?" His question was like an electric shock. She hadn't realized how that might appear to others. Rigel had drilled into her for years about appearances. And so had Beauxbatons.
"My Uncle had to work today," she answered.
"And he didn't take off?" the boy asked. He seemed genuinely concerned. His grey eyes reminding her so much of Sirius'.
"He just started his new job. He didn't want to take off so soon," she lied easily.
"Does he work at the Ministry?" the boy's father asked, joining the conversation.
"Yes. He just transferred from the French International Magical Office of Law to become the Head of the French Division of the International Magical Office of Law here in Britain."
"I didn't realize that Rigel Black had any kids," the boy's father said.
"Niece. He's my uncle," she said, trying to keep the bitterness and hatred she felt for her pathetic excuse for an Uncle out of her voice.
Apparently it hadn't worked because the boy just shot a look at his father and said, "Well, it's nice to meet you. My name is Cedric, Cedric Diggory."
"It's nice to meet you as well. I'm Mae Black," she said, smiling at him.
Cedric smiled back, "We should probably head onto the platform now. It's pretty easy. All you have to do is run at that pillar between platforms 9 and 10 and it'll bring you onto platform 9 ¾."
"Run at a pillar?" She said, raising an eyebrow, a small smile gracing her lips.
He chuckled. "Yes. I know. Sounds crazy, but that's magic for you," he said, "Beauxbatons probably picks everyone up in unicorn-drawn carriages."
"How did you know?" Mae asked, her voice dripping in sarcasm. She hadn't had a conversation this carefree in months.
"Just a hunch," he said, and he suddenly gestured for her to move ahead of him, "You can go first. Ladies first, and all that."
After Mae had checked for all signs of insincerity, which only took a moment - looks like Beauxbatons was good for something other than how to seduce a bloke after all -, she pushed her cart around Cedric and asked, "Do you have to run at the pillar, or will a walk suffice?"
Cedric laughed, "Walking is fine, but most people chicken out the first time so that's why they recommend running."
Sending one last smile over at him, she began to walk quickly towards the pillar. Just as she thought she was about to crash, she appeared on a platform full of people.
Chaos. Pure, and utter chaos. Do these people have no class. For a country that cared so much about blood purity and wealth to act this improper was insane. She was missing France already. This was a bloody free for all.
Suddenly Cedric was next to her, giving her a weird look. She didn't blame him, she didn't even want to know what sort of grimace had made its way onto her face.
"This wasn't what you were expecting?" He asked.
"Not even close," she said. "Please tell me that the school is much more structured than this- this madness."
That boyish grin re-appeared on his face. His grey eyes were sparkling just like Sirius' used to. "It's more of the parents and first-years than anything. The only time it gets anywhere near this hectic at school is during the feasts, which only happen every once in a while."
"Thank Merlin."
"The train is going to leave soon, let me help you get your trunk onto the train. You can sit with my friends and I on the way there, if you want."
"That would be great, thanks." She could've sworn that she saw a flash of red hair that reminded her so much of her father's, but she brushed it off. No use fooling herself. They're dead. There's no coming back from that. I saw it with my own eyes.
