For the next week Chailynn was inseperable from her wand. She carried it nearly everywhere; only in public did she put it away. She could hardly contain her excitement, pouring herself into her schoolbooks and gazing in wonder at the different potions ingredients tucked neatly inside a case (that matched her trunk perfectly, according to "specifications" she had given her mother). Elizabeth could hardly contain her relief that a wand had chosen her child, and even Macnair and the dragonkeepers could not dampen her mood at work. Time flew by, and finally it was the day.
"C'mon, Budgie, it's time to go!" Elizabeth called from the stairs. Chailynn was already awake; she had been for hours. She stood in front of her mirror, still in her night clothes. Her skin was covered in what at first glance seemed to be a patchy, glittery rash; but on a second look they were obviously scales. Her blonde hair was like flames; spreading from blonde down to a flaming red. Her ears were longer, pointing and fanning out. Those catching blue eyes were repitillian, pupils as small slits in the bright light of the bedroom. Chailynn's black tipped fingers were playing with a small ring; shaped ironically like a dragon. She slipped it onto her right hand, closing her eyes with a grimace as her draconian features vanished, shrinking back into her body.
When she opened her eyes, Chailynn stared sadly back at the normal girl in the mirror. She looked over her shoulder; the thick tail had vanished as well. She hurried away from the mirror, dressing in basic clothing. She would change into her uniform on the train.
"Chailynn, are you ready?" Elizabeth said, opening her bedroom door. Chailynn was sitting on the bed, holding a stuffed rabbit very close to her. Elizabeth put a hand to her chest, sweeping her daughter up in her arms.
"Ohh, I'm going to miss you, Chailynn." Elizabeth whispered, kissing the top of her daughter's head. "Just remember what I told you okay?"
"Yes, Mum." Chailynn replied, snuggling closer to her mother. They sat in silence,enjoying the comfort of the embrace for a few moments longer. Ms. Longfeather finally released her child, clapping her hands.
"Alright, let's get going then. We're supposed to meet the Weasleys at the station."
She pulled out her wand, giving it flick in the direction of the trunk. It rose about two feet off of the floor, hovering out the door and down the stairs. Chailynn tucked her rabbit into her bag, hurrying after her mother's long strides. They took a taxi to the station, and Chailynn tried not to laugh as the driver struggled to lift her trunk into the car. The ride felt almost too short, as though time was speeding up. Ms. Longfeather had a bit of trouble paying the driver, at first giving him a Galleon, and after he looked at her perplexedly, she quickly took it back and gave instead a twenty pound note. Chailynn followed her mother dutifully through the station, looking at the crowds with curiosity.
-I wonder how they go through life with no magic?- she wondered, watching one Muggle in particular lamenting over his upturned luggagel scrambling to pick up his unmentionables while another man apologized over and over.
"Scarlet!"
A familiar voice made her turn her head. Fred and George stood grinning at her, along with the rest of the Weasley family. Her face brightened instantly, and she ran up to greet them. The twin's older brother, Percy, stood haughtily glaring at the three of them.
"How was the rest of holiday?" Chailynn asked, eyeing him. George snickered.
"We enchanted Percy's books." he giggled.
"Now everytime he opens one, it starts screaming like a Howler." Fred added. The boys began laughing out right; earning an even more venomous look from Percy. Chailynn laughed at the sight, noticing Ron watching them with longing.
"Don't worry Ron," she said, "You'll be going with us soon enough."
This made him smile, and he looked up at his mother. Mrs. Weasley nodded, Ginny fast asleep in her arms.
"Come along, dears, through to the platform." she said. Charlie and Percy went first, running with their carts headlong into the wall. Chailynn had heard of the entrance to nine and three quarters, but had never seen in it person. She went almost slack-jawed to see it first hand as the boys disappeared into the solid brick, without drawing the attention of anyone else at the station.
"Alright, Budgie. Now it's your turn." Elizabeth said, giving her daughter a slight push. "I've got your trunk, don't worry."
Chailynn looked at her, then back to the wall. Many thoughts swirled through her mind. –What if it doesn't work for me? What if I just run and smack the wall and-
Someone took her hand. It was Fred.
"It's alright, Scarlet. There's nothing scary about it."
His encouraging tone gave her confidence, and she took a deep breath. Chailynn lined herself up with the wall between platforms nine and ten, and rushed it. The column was advancing quickly, she closed her eyes—and kept running. A quick hand grabbed her by the shoulder, she opened her eyes to see Charlie, chuckling as he stopped her.
"See Scarlet? Just a bit of courage will get you through a lot." he said, winking at her. Flushing red, she ducked her head. The twins came tumbling through the wall next, all tangled in each other and laughing raucously.
"Did you see her?"
"That awful look—"
"Like she sat on a pin!"
"What happened?" Chailynn asked, furrowing her eyebrows. She didn't wait long for an answer.
"FRED! GEORGE!"
Mrs. Weasley came through the portal at full charge. Ginny and Ron were no longer holding onto her; they came through moments later with Mr. Weasley and her mother. Mrs. Weasley's face was as red as her hair. Grabbing both of the boys by their ears, she wrenched them upright. The boys cried out and struggled.
"Augh! Mum, stop!"
"You're going to rip our ears off!"
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Never, never push a Muggle towards the portal while you're going through!" she seethed, trying to keep her voice low. Other children and parents were looking at them strangely. Percy looked absolutely shamed, though Charlie and Mr. Weasley appeared to be rather used to it. Elizabeth shifted Ginny in her arms, tapping Mrs. Weasley gently on the shoulder.
"I hate to interrupt, Molly, but the train is on a schedule."
"Oh, yes, of course." she replied, releasing the boys. Strangely, she then pulled them both into a very tight hug. "Please do behave, boys. Don't forget to write, all of you."
Chailynn suddenly felt very lonely. She ran to her mother, throwing her arms around her. After passing Ginny to Mr. Weasley, Elizabeth picked her daughter up, holding her very close. Chailynn buried her face into her mother's shoulder, breathing the comforting scent of cinnamon.
"I'll miss you." she whispered. Elizabeth rocked her gently, hushing her quietly.
"Oh, I'm just a hop, skip and a jump away, Budgie." Elizabeth whispered back, kissing her daughter's cheek. She set her down, wiping a tear from her eye. "Now study hard, and have lots and lots of fun. You're going to love it there, I promise."
Fred and George grabbed her arms.
"Let's go, Scarlet. We've got to get a carriage to ourselves!"
They collected their things, lugging them onto the train with some difficulty. Upon finding an empty carriage, Chailynn ran to the window. Their families stood waving on the platform, and she waved back, even as the train began to move out of the station, until she could no longer see them.
"Excited, Scarlet?" Fred asked.
"This is going to be the most fun we've ever had." added George. Chailynn nodded.
"Definitely."