The morning of my first day of school is…interesting to say the least. Before we leave for the train, Alicia decides to act out the scene in Mean Girls, a movie we'd watched last week, where Cady's parents first send her off to school and dramatically hands me a bagged lunch she made herself, featuring Doritos, a vanilla yogurt, and Oreos and says, "Our phone numbers are programmed into your phone and don't hesitate to call us if you have any problems,"
My laughter is loud and she soon joins, both of us earning glares from Dad, who isn't quite awake yet. Alicia slides a mug of coffee to me as Dad and I butter bagels.
"Was the lunch really necessary?"
Dad shrugs. "We've never sent a kid to school before; we're unsure of the protocol,"
I snicker. "Off mark,"
He flicks a crumb at me. "Is your trunk packed?"
I hesitate. "Mostly."
"Get a move on!" Alicia shoos me out. "We leave in an hour!"
"Dad told me 10!"
"Oliver!"
In just over an hour, we're all almost ready, only waiting for Erin to come downstairs. Alicia looks like she's about to tear up, watching me gather the last of my things in the kitchen. "It's not like this is forever," I say hesitantly. Mom never cried when I left for school; in fact, she practically pushed me out the door. "You can owl me. Or text."
"It's just not going to be the same," She says.
"Yeah, it'll be better," Dad jumps in.
"Hey!" I protest. "You love having me here and I am a pleasure to be related to,"
He rolls his eyes, but he's grinning. "Get moving. We have to carry all your stuff out front so we can apparate,"
"Oh fine," I sigh dramatically. "Did you want to get a picture of me standing by the front door before I left?"
"DAMN IT, I KNEW WE FORGOT SOMETHING!" Dad cries.
"I'LL GET THE CAMERA!" Alicia screams.
God, I love this family.
Platform 9 ¾ is already bustling when we arrive. Colton is holding onto Alicia's hand like his life depends on it, while the older two are wide eyed and excited as they look all around. It doesn't hit me until we've been there for a good bit that this is their first time here, their first experience with Hogwarts.
They're in awe of the giant red train in front of us, almost fearful of all the students around us and sticking close to me as we move through the crowd. "Next year, this'll be you," Dad says, ruffling Parker's hair, and he grins, looking back at the train.
Uncle George, Aunt Angelina, and Freddy come over to greet us, a little before Freddy and I are due on the train. The adults quickly begin talking, leaving Freddy and I with Erin and Parker, who immediately turn their attention to him.
"Are you going to Hogwarts too?" Erin asks.
"Yep,"
She sighs dramatically before poking my leg. "Can I come with you?"
"Sorry boo," I tell her. "You've got to wait a few more years." She frowns. "You'll have more fun this way. Don't you want to wait until you're going with people your own age and you can make lots of new friends?"
"But I'll miss you!"
Freddy fights back a laugh as I take a deep breath, asking anyone for some patience. "I'll miss you too, Er. But you can't come to Hogwarts yet."
"Your mom will miss you too much!" Freddy jumps in
"Oh!" She says. "Ok, that's a good point!"
"Thank you," I mouth to him.
"Do you think your mom misses you?" Parker asks.
Forgetting who I'm talking to, I answer. "Nah, she's got plenty of guys to fu—"I cut off mid-word, eyes wide.
"Fu-what?" Parker says."
"Fun," I cover and Freddy cracks up, laughing far too loud; people are starting to stare. "Plenty of guys to fun,"
Parker and Erin both frown. "What does that mean?" She asks, wrinkling her nose.
Shit. "It's American slang," I invent wildly and Freddy has to bury his face in my shoulder he's laughing so hard. I'm pretty sure he's crying. "It's like another word for marry, like you know, how she gets married all the time. She funs a lot of guys, she marries a lot of them," Definitely crying.
In front of me, my siblings are both nodding. "I'm going to fun as many girls as your mom!" Parker says.
"I'm going to fun Owen Spence!" Erin cries, referring to one of the members of Purple Pygmy Puffs, a boy band she adores.
"Oh Merlin, Dad's going to kill me," I mutter, leaning into Freddy, who's still laughing uncontrollably.
The train whistle sounds, warning all of us stragglers to get moving. Freddy composes himself enough to say good-bye to our families and while he's with his parents, I make good-byes to my own family.
"Bye, love you," Freddy's levitating my stuff as we start our walk to the train. He has a compartment with James and some of their other friends already, his own belongings already inside. "Just remember I'm your favorite oldest daughter and you love me too,"
Dad frowns. "What did you do,"
"Please don't kill me, see you in December!" I jump on the train and quickly follow Freddy before anything else can be said.
Freddy is still chuckling as he leads me into a compartment with four boys. James immediately greets me and Freddy seems to suddenly remember he has my things when he almost drops them before stowing them away above with the others. "Right, you lot," He says, dropping into an open seat, and patting the spot next to it for me. "This is Carson," I wave. "This is Liam," The guys across from himself looks pretty short, but all muscle. He's got dark hair and a smile on his face as he greets me. "Dan," Dan waves. He's the only Asian in the group, taller than Liam, but just as muscular. What are they putting in the water at Hogwarts? "And Louis, another cousin," Louis is on the end, across from James, and he waves, so as not to interrupt their argument. He's got blond hair, blue eyes, and beautiful, striking features.
"My God, how many of you are there?"
"A lot more than this," James laughs.
"Oh god,"
"I think she was being facetious."
"Yes," I say. "Thank you, Louis,"
"Shut up, Lou," James says. "You're supposed to be on my side. You're my brother in law,"
Louis scowls. "He's not even your real brother!"
Liam shakes his head, looking over at me. "Five minutes and we're already here. That's got to be a record," He grins. "Welcome to the crew!"
"What on Earth did you get me into?"
Freddy beams back. "Are you not thrilled to be here with us?"
"Oh I'm something," I mutter and the rest of the boys laugh.
In all fairness, they are a good group. Louis leaves about 10 minutes after we pull away from the platform to run the Prefect meeting ("There goes our little Head Boy," James had cooed, to have his head slapped by Lou on his way out). They're a good mix of friendly and mocking, and it does seem like I'll fit in with the rest of them, the way I'd fit with Freddy.
A few hours into our journey, the door flies open and a beautiful blonde throws herself across Louis, Liam, and Dan. "My boys!" She cries.
Dan, who had been asleep prior to this, startles suddenly, as he awakens, when she lands on top of him. "Oi!" He cries. "What in the hell was that for?"
"I was excited to see you!" She beams, sitting up and squeezing between him and Louis. When she sits up, I can see even more how striking she is. Tall, with long legs, lead up to that perfect body every girl wants. Blonde hair that seems to float over her shoulder and sky blue eyes that are done in that winged eyeliner style I've never been able to master. In fact, her entire make-up scheme is perfect, right down to her perfectly red lip. In short, she looks like the daughter my mother always wanted.
"Well you would've seen us sooner if you hadn't been with that scumbag boyfriend of yours,"
"God I wish you would all stop saying that," She rolls her eyes.
"He's a Slytherin, Meg, what do you expect us to say?" James says, with a casual sort of half-smirk.
She rounds on him. "Your brother is a Slytherin!"
"I know, and Al's a moody prick,"
She rolls her eyes, before finally turning to me. "Are you a new girlfriend here to save me from them?"
"Err no to the first," I say and her eyes light up. "But maybe to the second, I'm still undecided,"
She laughs, even as the boys all look offended. "I'm Megan,"
"Carson,"
"So how'd you even get stuck in with these guys?" She asks.
"My parents know Freddy's; he hasn't introduced me to anyone else yet,"
"That's because there isn't anyone else worth knowing,"
I shrug over at Megan. "And you know, he thinks so highly of himself, I'd hate to just put him down,"
Her entire face is lit up as she beams back at me. "Oh I am so excited to have another girl around!"
And yeah, I can see how she would be excited about that.
"Left, no no no, not that LEFT, SHARP LEFT," Meg grabs my elbow and pulls me down the correct corridor.
"Why are we walking so fast?" To say that we're power walking down to breakfast would be an understatement; this is practically a jog. With me not knowing my way, it's made for a few interesting moments like this,
"We may be running a few minutes late,"
My eyes narrow. "How many?"
"Like 20. It's whatever. Whatever. Liam will make sure we have food and Professor Longbottom will get us our schedules."
"But will I have time to eat?"
"If you pick up your damn feet,"
I speed up with her. "We're a flying family, not a running one!"
When we reach the boys at the end of Gryffindor table, they're all giving us funny looks. Meg and I are both hunched over, gasping for breath. Her backpack is still on her back, pushing her more forward; I'd thrown mine on the ground, not even reacting when it landed on Freddy's foot and he yelped.
"What is wrong with you two?" Louis asks, making some room for me between him and James.
"Seriously," James agrees. "After one jog,"
"Wildly out of shape," I gasp and Meg nods her agreement.
"I think I developed asthma this summer," Her words have me cracking up and she soon joins me, even if the boys around us quickly go back to ignoring us to return to their food.
"Good morning!" Professor Longbottom greets cheerfully, moments after Meg and I have gotten our breakfasts together.
"Uncle Neville," James nods politely in greeting.
Professor Longbottom sighs, long suffering. "How many times, James?"
James grins cheekily. "Every time; that's what makes it fun for me,"
Longbottom rubs his temples; it reminds me of my Dad when he's pretending he's tired of my whole existence. "Let it go," He mutters under his breath. "Louis, as Head Boy, please control your brother in law,"
"He's not my brother in law!" Louis cries.
"Honestly, Lou," Freddy tsks. "A little more respect for professors. You're supposed to be Head Boy," James snickers along with him.
"Don't push it, Freddy," Longbottom fights back a smile. "Here are your schedules. Find me in my office later with any concerns," He moves onto the next group.
Dan snatches his from the pile immediately. "Ugh, double potions first thing twice a week,"
"Today's not so bad," Liam says, eyes scanning his own schedule. "Charms, herbology, a free, and divination,"
"Why would you even take that?" Meg asks.
The response is lost on me as I look at my own schedule. My own schedule looked pretty good as well. I'd stuck with the same subjects as at Ilvermorny, not choosing to add or drop any, as Professor Longbottom had offered when he'd come over to Sort me. That left me with the Core Five, as we called them at Ilvermorny; Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, and Defense, with Arithmancy as an additional elective.
"Hey," Freddy pokes the top of my head. "Are you joining us?"
"Oh! I nod. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm ready,"
James grins from behind him. "We won't even make you run,"
"Fuck off James," Meg flips him off.
He wraps his arm around her shoulders. "I'd hate to set off your asthma again, Meg,"
She shoves him into the wall as they pass. It's well deserved.
The start of a double herbology period finds James gently shoving into Louis with each step, Louis muttering obscenities under his breath back at him, and me following the two of them to our assigned table, utterly baffled about everything.
Utterly baffled, that is, until we reach said table, and a cute blonde is already sitting at our table as the final member of our group this term. There are really no other words to describe her other than cute, except for maybe adorable? She has one of those bright, shining faces, even as she sits here in class, with big brown, doe eyes and a sweet smile. She's fairly petite, visible even from where she's seated in the chair. Everything about her looks like she's the sweetest person in the world.
And, well, yes, she just may be. The second I sit down across from her at the table, she introduces herself as Maeve, offers herself for any assistance I may need acclimating myself to Hogwarts, and tells me not to hesitate asking her if I need any help with anything. My instant reaction is that she's a little much, until she finishes the whole thing off by letting me know that she's also available just to hang if I "ever want to get away from those losers,"
"Hey!" Louis cries in protest.
She rolls her eyes, turning her attention back to me. "I'm Head Girl, so I'm stuck with him quite a bit; I know how he can get. Seriously, if you ever just want a change of pace, let me know,"
"Carson loves us," Louis informs her.
"Meh," I say. "It's a little soon for the L word,"
They all laugh, even Louis, who tells me to give him another week and I'll be changing my tune. "You'll see," He says. "They all do,"
"On that slight creepy note," James says brightly. "I think you just nominated yourself to put your hand down the plant today,"
Double Herbology leads into lunch, which James goes running into. Louis and I follow at a much more leisurely pace, so by the time we make it to the table, James has already told the table who our last partner is, and poor Lou is walking right into an ambush.
Five faces with identical creepy smiles greet us. "I think we should leave."
Louis sighs dramatically. "You're safe; it's me they're after."
"Alright then," I shrug, sliding into the open spot between Dan and James.
His jaw drops. "You weren't actually supposed to leave me!"
"Oh, right, you don't actually know me that well, but you shouldn't really be surprised."
"How did you make it into Gryffindor?"
"No, Lou, loyalty is a Hufflepuff trait,"
"Yeah, I can screw you over all I want as long as I do it bravely," I add, nodding along with James' last sentence.
"I hate all of you," He gestures at me. "Even you. Only 24 hours to get here; took the rest of them years,"
"What a shame," I say, grinning. "Especially since Maeve loves me so much, we'll be hanging out all the time,"
As the others all laugh with me, his jaw drops. "Oh no, you're as awful as them; please, someone save me,"
"I don't know, Lou," Liam says. "It's been seven years. If no one's saved you by now, I think you're stuck with us,"
Arithmancy is by far my favorite subject. I like the crispness of the numbers, how everything always works out. You're right or you're wrong, and here's why. My best friend at Ilvermorny had a theory that its total structure balanced out the chaos of my childhood. Whatever it was, it was the only class on my first day I walked into without even a slight feeling of nerves.
I'd been unsurprised to discover that none of my Gryffindor friends were in Arithmancy with me. I'd learned the reason for Liam and Dan's continued studies of Diviniation—both excelled at exaggerating outrageous stories that pleased the professor enough to make the class an easy O. Meg leaves us for Muggle Studies at that time, also off on her own, and pouting about it in what I'm coming to learn is typical of her.
Freddy, James, and Louis are the ones to drop me off at Arithmancy before making their way to Care of Magical Creatures. The room is, as I'd expected, fairly empty compared to Charms and Herbology this morning. My eyes are scanning for a seat when I hear my name.
"Carson!" Maeve's waving from a table that's located conveniently not too close, yet not too far from the front. There's one additional spot at the table and the two other girls look just as friendly as she does, even as they continue their conversation as I make my way over. "Hi!" She chirps. "Oh, I'm so glad you found your way here alone,"
"I didn't," I admit. "The boys helped me here,"
The brunette across from me snorts a laugh. "And they didn't try and convince you to ditch class? Something's up,"
I laugh. "Probably, but Meg told them they weren't allowed to make me an accomplice until at least week 3,"
Maeve laughs. "That sounds more like it. Carson, this is Vero," The brunette smiles. She looks like she could be a relative of Alicia, with her olive toned skin, dark hair, and brown eyes. They're even a similar height. "And Lizzie, my best friends," Lizzie's hair is dyed lavender, and her hazel eyes are bright as she studies me. "They're both in Hufflepuff with me,"
The seats around us are starting to fill, friends finding each other, as I return the smiles they're both giving me while I look around. A table of Ravenclaw's is next to us, already discussing the syllabus, and I turn back to the girls, disappointed, when I realize even the cute one is arguing about the course schedule.
I like Arithmancy, but not that much.
"Oh I hope he's gotten hotter over the summer," Lizzie's saying.
Vero nods her agreement. "I hope he's got the beard again,"
"Seriously? What is wrong with you?"
"Oh I am such a sucker for a good beard," She sounds wistful. "I'm not sure anyone does it better here,"
"And who's this?" I ask, curiously.
"Professor O'Neal," Maeve says. Even she sounds a little excited about the thought. "He is far and away the best-looking professor in school."
"Wait until you see him." Vero promises. "It makes it worth any of the work he assigns,"
"Setting the bar pretty high."
"You will not be disappointed," She perks up as the door opens and lowers her voice when he walks in. "Yes! The beard is back!"
"Vero!" Lizzie hisses.
"What? Just imagine," She cuts herself off, lost in thought as she stares at him dreamily.
Poor Maeve's cheeks are bright red as she turns to me. "Please save me,"
Unfortunately for her, I'm laughing. "I think I'm with Vero on this one,"
She groans. "Oh Merlin, not another one,"
A/N: I am so happy you all like this story so far and really hope you continue to do so! Please keep on reviewing and let me know. I love hearing what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Mean Girls, which is mentioned in this chapter.
