Aradia, Sollux, Eridan, and Feferi
Diagon Alley had not gone well, not that I could bring myself to care. Sollux had gotten so angry, but it hadn't stirred any emotion in me. I only hoped that he was ok. If there was one thing left that I cared about, it was that I didn't hurt my friends.
School was starting in three days, but it didn't seem to matter. By this point, it had been so long since I had felt anything. I hadn't gotten angry at Vriska, mourned my mum, or laughed with my friends. Faking anything had gotten harder, but hopefully, no one would notice. I would almost have preferred to stay in my silent house, quiet and lonesome ever since mum died.
It was raining outside, and I could hear the drops splatter on the pavement, one by one. I stared out the window, trying to remember what it was like to be happy, to care. If there were two things I was sure of by this point, it was that I cared for my friends, and I would do anything to convince myself I was still alive.
Without even realizing what I was doing, I walked outside, feeling the cool pinpricks of raindrops against my skin. I started to run, away from the empty, broken down house, away from the empty feeling inside my own skin. I ran faster and faster, but the pavement was slippery and devious, and I tripped, hands coming out automatically to catch myself. They struck the ground hard, and I felt a burst of pain run through my body.
I picked myself up off the ground, feeling the sting of the blood, watching it pool up in cuts and scrapes-but I felt it. That was the important thing. It was the first time I had truly felt anything, truly been alive in months. I walked home slowly, staring at my hands all the while.
School was starting in two days, and the blood on my hands had all washed away, but the knife from the kitchen left new marks on my skin. I welcomed the pain, for I wasn't just a dead girl anymore. The knife earned a special spot in my bags, hidden away at the bottom of the chest, where secrets and broken things belong.
The next day, I made my way onto the train, looking for a compartment that was either empty or had someone I liked in it. I nearly passed by Feferi and Eridan, sitting near the back of the train, but Feferi called to me, voice bright. "Aradia! Come sit with us."
I could hardly refuse such a direct offer, so I tried out a smile and sat down across the car from Eridan and Feferi. Eridan did not look particularly happy with me, but Feferi's genuine happiness and bubbly personality made up for it.
"I just cannot wait to get back to Hogwarts," she gushed. "I've missed my fronds, and the school itsealf so much. We krill have so much fun this year!" I watched Feferi talk, and wondered how she did it. Every sentence she spoke seemed bright and full of happiness, and she seemed to have recovered from the events at the end of last year. Unless, of course, she had just become better at faking it.
"The summer was fun too," Eridan said, his voice a little bit defensive as he watched Feferi out of the corner of his eye. She rushed to assure him that of course she enjoyed the summer, she enjoyed the whole year!
"I hope you had a good summer," she said suddenly, turning to me. "I've just been glubbing on and on about myself, I never gave you a chance to speak for-Sollux!" she didn't finish her sentence, head whipping to the door as she spotted Sollux walking by. I swear, she had some sort of sixth sense that allowed her to know when anyone went by.
Sollux cautiously opened the door. I resigned myself to stilted attempts at conversation for the rest of the train ride. "Hi Eridan, FF," he said, nodding to both of them. His gaze trailed over to me. "...AA,"
"Hi, Sollux," I said softly. Eridan grunted out a hello.
"Come sit with us," Feferi begged, and Sollux reluctantly made his way into the compartment, plopping down next to me. Despite everything, despite how little I cared for any of these stilted conversations, or anything in general, there was still a part of me that thought of these people as friends. I didn't want to hurt them, but even I could feel the tension in the air. I couldn't leave Feferi to attempt to deal with all of it on her own.
I dug my nails into the palm of my hand, feeling the sharp pain and focusing on that. "Do you always go to the seaside for the summer?" I asked Feferi, and I could feel Sollux look at me in shock.
"Yeah, most years!" Feferi said, eyes grateful. "I love the water, and I spend all of my time swimming when I can. Eridan's family comes too."
"That sounds fun," I said, trying to sound as normal as possible. "I usually just hang around the house." Feferi frowned.
"Don't you get bored?" she asked. I shrugged, and the compartment fell into silence. I stared absently out of the window as the train began to move. After a few moments, I heard someone shifting around uncomfortably. Finally, Eridan cleared his throat.
"So, what's your favorite color?" he asked out of the blue. Sollux snorted.
"Seriously?" he said dryly. Eridan glared at the other boy.
"Do you have anything better?" Sollux hesitated before looking down. Eridan smirked. "I thought not. My favorite color's purple."
"No shit," I heard Sollux mumble under his breath, and Feferi gave a little giggle. Eridan, however, seemed conveniently oblivious.
"I love pink," Feferi trilled out, backing up her best friend. "What about you two?"
"Yellow," Sollux said before glancing at me. "And you, AA?" I hesitated for a moment, shrugging again.
"I don't really have a favorite color."
"That's fine," Feferi's voice was enthusiastic. "There are lots of great colors out there." The conversation lapsed back into silence, and this time, Sollux was the one to break it.
"...Favorite animal?"
The rest of the train ride continued in this manner, until we arrived at Hogwarts. Darkleer directed us towards some carriages, before hurrying off towards the first years. Eridan, Feferi, Sollux and I crammed into one. "What makes them move?" Sollux asked me quietly, but Eridan overheard. He snorted, tone superior.
"They're pulled by thestrals." The boy crossed his arms, as if daring us to inquire on the subject of thestrals. I ignored him, staring at the floor until we pulled into Hogwarts. Let the second year of school begin.
John, Karkat, Gamzee, Dave, and Tavros:
The school year was finally starting again! I was excited to leave home this time, because, over the summer, the levels of familial strife was off the charts. I was grounded all the time, and my dad almost didn't let me come back. But I did, and so I was grateful to board the train and see him waving goodbye.
Diagon Alley happened about a week after school ended. My father, who was forever pragmatic, suggested that I buy all my school things at the beginning of the summer, so I missed all of my friends. But now, I would see them all again.
I wasn't sure where to sit, so I looked for Dave. He was sitting in a car with Gamzee and Karkat, and they were talking about something or another.
"Hey, Dave!" I said, sitting down next to him. He greeted me with a fist bump. I ignored this and hugged him. Karkat coughed.
"John, it's... nice to see you." he said like there was something in his throat. I grinned.
"Hi Karkat!" I said. He smiled weakly.
We talked about pranks and ate some candy from the trolley. The best part was the droobles. We all chewed a few pieces, so the compartment was filled with little pink bubbles.
Just then the door slid open.
"Uhhh... hi. Can I uh sit in here?" asked Tavros, who was sitting in the doorway. We nodded.
"Sure." I said. He grinned.
After that, the ride felt very awkward, but I wasn't sure why. All I knew was that Karkat was becoming my bro, whether he liked it or not.
Finally, the train was about 10 minutes away from the school, and we changed into our uniforms. I proudly clipped on a gryffindor tie, I had no time for tying that shit. Dave struggled with his, and so Karkat tied it for him, muttering insults under his breath.
As we got off the train, I looked at it. Was it a coincidence it was painted red and gold? Probably not.
Terezi, Rose, Kanaya, Vriska and Jade:
I was so done with staying at home. So done. Senator Lemonsnout had finally tripped up, and proven all my suspicions. I convicted him, and with the approval of His Honorable Tyranny, hung the bastard. Ha! Other than that, my summer was boring. I did my best to avoid my dad, and contacted a few of my friends, but the social gatherings I was forced to attend were hell.
I practically bounced on to the train, searching for a compartment with some of my friends. I found Rose and Jade sitting together near the front of the train, and invited myself in.
"Hello again!" I declared, sitting down next to Jade.
"Hi Terezi," Jade squealed, flinging herself towards me for a hug. Rose opted for a calmer greeting.
"How wonderful to see you again, Pyrope," she said. I inclined my head in her general direction.
"You too, Lalonde." I cocked my head then. "Why do you smell like alcohol?" Rose scoffed.
"You can blame my mother for all the less than becoming traits of my return from summer vacation," she said, voice pointed. Jade laughed.
"Hello Terezi, Jade, Rose," a sophisticated voice spoke from the doorway. I smelled green-Kanaya. But there was someone else with her, and she smelled like delicious blueberries, but even that was overridden by the fact that she was a huge bitch. Vriska. "Do you mind if we sit with you?" Kanaya asked politely. I sighed softly, surprised to hear the same noise from Rose. Surely she didn't have a problem with Kanaya, which meant I had finally found someone else who disliked Serket. Finally!
Before either of us had the chance to tell them to fuck off (Or, at least, Vriska), Jade spoke up, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil. "That would be awesome!" she said, voice cheery. Kanaya sat down next to Rose, and Vriska sat in between Rose and Jade, completing our semi-circle. There was silence, nothing like the easy banter we had going before.
"I can't see, but I can smell the tension!" I said, quite interested in where the situation was going. Four heads turned towards me.
"Pardon?" Kanaya questioned, voice level. I cackled.
"Forgive me if this offends, but you may have finally lost it," Rose said. I sniffed.
"I smell deceit." I said, and Rose pulled out a book with force. Snapping it open and reading it with a scowl on her face. Vriska laughed.
"What's gotten into you today?" she asked, apparently curious. I felt the urge to bang my head against a wall, but I didn't want to suffer any more head damage, so I ignored the three girls and turned to Jade.
"How was your summer?" I asked, and Jade and I had a very nice conversation, pointedly ignoring the three girls on the other side of the train. I resolved to never speak to any of them when they were in the same room as the other two. Of course, I never planned to speaking to one of them anyways, so that was easy. Finally, we changed into our Hogwarts robes, and arrived at the train station. I got separated from Kanaya, Rose and Vriska, but Jade and I piled in a car with John, Karkat, and Dave. There were only four places to sit, so I immediately sat on top of Dave.
"Hi, coolkid," I said excitedly.
"Goddammit Terezi," he groaned. "This is not cool. This is so uncool it's like fucking Florida in here. It's so uncool, you just climbed inside an oven and burned yourself to death, and now you are forcing me to act like I care."
I ignored all his complaints, and stayed where I was for the rest of the train ride. I was so ready to be back in school.
Meulin, Nepeta, Kurloz, Horuss, Equius
My morning was very long. I was sad to say goodbye to my purrfect father, but I was so excited to return to my favorite place in the world, the Hufflepuff Common Room! It was so warm, the purrfect place for a catnap! I boarded the train and changed into my robes right away. My trusty cat hat slid over my bangs, and cool gloves stretched over my knuckles. I got them to match Equius'.
I slid into the compartment next to Meulin and across from Equius. He noticed my hands.
"Nepeta you've purchased gloves to match mine." I beamed.
"You noticed!" I said, bouncing in my chair. Equius wasn't very perceptive, which is what made it easy to sneak around him, taking potions. I was nearly a year into the process. Disciple promised we'd celebrate somehow. I was so excited!
We talked and laughed in the car. Meulin and I discussed Meulin's new cat, Rufuss.
"How did you name Rufuss?" I asked. She leaned in close to my ear.
"It's my shipping name for Horuss and his boyfriend Rufioh. They're like, my OTP!" she said. I grinned.
"My OTP is Equius and this girl he likes named Aradia." I said. Meulins face went blank.
"Damara's cousin?" she asked. I nodded. "Oh. Stay away from Megidos." she whispered. I was intrigued.
"Why?" she shook her head.
"A while back, some shit went down. Don't screw with them." she nodded her head once, and that was that.
After a while, Equius, Kurloz, and Horuss left to change, and as the sky darkened, my home approached. I was so excited to be coming back!
We got into a carriage, and I noticed a boy in the one in front of us, a Slytherin, who was talking with a silly looking boy. The boy in question had dark hair and an angry expression. I was taken with him. I believed I had a new OTP!