Hey everyone, it is I back again with another update. This time a very long update that was going to be longer and to include the sorting hall ceremony but my hands cramped up and I did end up writing most of it on the plane ride back home. It be like that. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and the view guest surprises that are in it! Thank you for yasdnilgoth and stoneley for your lovely reviews. It really made my day. Also, thank you Stoneley for finding those typos. It seemed I was in the me/my mood during that time. Enjoy!
As each day crept closer to September first, the more restless Maggie grew. Hogwarts was a new beginning and Maggie was great at starting fresh. While Maggie was taking in this fact with great excitement and anticipation, her mother, on the other hand, was still cautious as ever. The whole run in with the Weasley family probably didn't help. The Weasley family were an interesting bunch. She wouldn't mind spending time with the langy boy Ron. The twins on the other hand, well she prayed that the universe will have mercy on her and spare her from accidentally crossing paths with the two.
As July turned into August and August slowly neared September Maggie's mom began to act restless. A certain type of restlessness that Maggie knew all too well. Her mother was contemplating on Maggie. It was easy to tell, at least for Maggie it was. The way her mom was unable to maintain direct eye contact, the constant checking out through the blinds, the slow packing of clothes (which generally was the biggest telling point). On August 30th, Maggie decided enough was enough.
"We aren't moving," Maggie said as she read her History of Magic textbook. Her eyes skimming over the section of the four houses. For a book that should've been fascinating, it was a painful read. It was the one textbook Maggie was unable to finish.
Her mom paused, kicking the suitcase back underneath the bed. Maggie sighed, giving her mom annoyed look as she closed her book shut.
"I don't wanna move mom," Maggie said softly, her eyes pleading at her mom.
"It isn't safe here anymore Mags," her mom sighed, taking the suitcase back out and opening it. It seemed she already packed. "Now go grab your things Mags."
Maggie glanced at her closest before staring into her mom's blue eyes.
"No."
Her mom's eyes widen as her face slowly burned a light red.
"We are leaving Margaret and that's final."
"No, I don't want to move only to keep moving. For once I can be at a place, a safe environment, for people like me-"
"It isn't a place for people like you," her mom snapped harshly, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "There will never be a safe place for you. Now back your damn bags."
Maggie flinched at her mom's harsh words. Never before had she ever lost her temper like that, at least never towards her. Her words stung and Maggie felt tears swell up in her eyes. Her mom was breathing heavily, her head hung low. As she looked up the harshness in her eyes melted away as she looked at the hurt and pain in her daughter's face. Her stern facial expression dropped and for the first time in awhile she looked like the thirty-one-year-old she was. A thirty-one-year-old who has been carrying the world and all its burden on her shoulder.
"Oh Maggie," her mother sighed, "I'm so sorry honey. I didn't mean to snap at you. But we really-"
"Why?" Maggie cut her off coldly. She didn't want to hear the apologetic voice, instead, she wanted answers.
"Why is there nowhere safe for people like me?" Maggie asked again when her mom refused to answer.
"Oh darling you wouldn't be able to understand," her voice was light and melancholic.
"Then it is something other than being a witch," Maggie mused. She noticed how her mother's eyes avoided her gaze.
"Is this about that man? The man before we flew here."
Her mother became a sickly pale white, similar to how she looked when Maggie first saw the odd man by their temporary motel back in the states.
Maggie opened her mouth to ask her mom so many questions. Questions like: how did she know this man? Why does he scare her? Does he know dad?
But the words were stuck in her throat as she saw the defeated expression on her mom's face.
"Hogwarts will be safe mom," Maggie said instead, the feeling of anger towards her mom was washed away. "The professors won't let any harm come to any students which includes me. Besides he won't even be able to find it anyways."
Her words seemed to trigger something in her mom's memories as her face seemed to relax once again. Perhaps McGonagall reassured her as well during their talk in June.
"Okay hun," her mom said and she brought her daughter into a tight hug, "Just promise me one thing. Just... if you ever see him, you run away from him like a bat out of hell."
Maggie smiled. "Of course mom."
With that, there was peace back in the Barker's motel room.
The day of September first was now upon them. Maggie was very glad that despite her mom's initial hesitancy for this whole Hogwarts ordeal that she still paid attention to the directions on how to get to Platform Nine and three quarters.
The two of them stood in the busy King Cross station, staring at platform nine and platform ten. Maggie's hair was pulled up into a nice curly ponytail, her new dress danced in the light September breeze. Her knuckles were trying a bright white as she harshly gripped on her trolley that held her suitcase and school supplies.
"So, she said I have to run through this metal barrier?" Maggie questioned her mom not even bothering to hide the skepticism she felt. While this wouldn't be the most outrageous thing for a world of magic (she saw bricks magically move to open up a passageway to the wizarding version of an outside shopping district), it was mostly due to the fact that if she was wrong...well Maggie was never a huge fan of hospitals and would rather anything that would have her end up there.
It seemed she was not the only one skeptical of the transportation method as her mother gave her an uncertain head nod.
Maggie sighed and hugged her mother. "I love you mom," Maggie said. Her mother squeezed her back and gave her a warm smile.
"You stay safe sweetheart," her mom whispered, her eyes watering up.
Maggie pulled away from her mother's embraced and gave her a bright smile and blinking rapidly to prevent any tears from leaking. She refused to let her mom see her cry, she didn't want to worry her.
"Mom you know me," she teased making her mom roll her eyes in response.
"Exactly," she teased back. Maggie gave her mom one last smile and waved before closing her eyes and charging to the metal barrier.
Instead of feeling the harsh connection of stone slamming on her face, she felt a breeze of air. Slowly she opened her eyes and let out a loud gasp.
In front of her were a crowd of people. Different families with children of all ages. Most of them wearing bright and colorful robes that reminded her of the witches and wizards in Diagon Alley. Her eyes switched from observing the crowd to the large scarlet train that was stationary on the rails. The smell of smoke had a homely feel that uplift her spirit. Fellow students were storing their luggage and clambering onto the train. Maggie whipped around expecting to see the same barrier, however instead there was wrought iron archway that read "platform nine and three quarters".
She opened her mouth to talk to her mom but closed it as quickly as she opened it. The realization that her mom was not here hit Maggie harder than she thought. Despite all the moves and different schools, she always had one thing constant. And that was her mom. But now, she didn't even have that and for some reason that made her feel far lonelier than she should've.
Maggie walked through the crowd as she stared at the train trying to find what appeared to be an empty carriage area. It was much more difficult than she thought as she had nearly run over the tails of several cats as well as the feet of different children and adults. The joy that made up the atmosphere was contagious enough to slowly pull Maggie out of her somewhat sore move. Though seeing some students leaning out the windows to wave goodbye to their family only made her miss her mom more. Maggie took a deep breath and put on a strong face.
She entered the train quicky and started looking for an empty compartment. To her dismay, despite arriving at the platform rather her, the train still was extremely crowded. Students of various ages were rushing around. Some were shouting into different compartments, others stood in the hallway talking. Between juggling her luggage, looking for a compartment, and trying not to run anyone over, it wasn't too surprising that she would fail at one of those things.
To Maggie's great embarrassment she ended up colliding and knocking over both herself and a taller boy. She felt her face warm up as she blubbered out an apology. To her relief, the boy just gave her a laugh and a warm smile.
"It's fine. Could've happened to anyone," he said, pushing back his dark hair from his face. His grey eyes observed her before widening slightly.
"You are first year?" he asked. Maggie flushed a bit before nodding.
"It is pretty hectic, but don't worry you will get used to it. I knocked over several people my first time here," he smiled.
"Hopefully I will," Maggie responded, wishing to just disappear into a compartment. Instead of being able to make an escape, the older boy held out his hand.
"Cedric," he said. She would never admit it but it took her a second too long to figure out what he meant.
She shook his hand. "Maggie," she said, slowly regaining her composure.
"Well Maggie, if you want you can come sit with my friends and I."
Maggie couldn't help but smile brightly at his kindness. She knocked him over and barely spoke a word to him yet he invited her to sit with him and his friends. While she wouldn't mind sitting alone and just reading, she decided that if she was going to spend the next seven years here it would be best to make some friends.
"Uhh yeah sure...thank you." Cedric gave her a warm smile and picked up her luggage. At first, Maggie was going to protest but decided that if he wanted to carry her things, let him. Less work for her after all.
Cedric lead the way, smoothly dodging several people while making small talk to Maggie. As they were talking about how life in America differs from England, they arrived to a somewhat crowded compartment.
"Ah Diggory you came back!" a long raven haired boy exclaimed, "We were worried you got lost."
Cedric rolled his eyes as he lifted her suitcase into the compartment and stacked it with the rest. Suddenly Maggie found several eyes stuck on her. Inside this compartment were three girls and three boys (excluding Cedric). Two of the girls looked rather similar, both had long dark hair with matching almond sized eyes and light brown skin complexion. One seemed to be slightly older than Maggie while the other appeared to have a year or so on her. The other girl had sharper features compared to the other two girls with the addition of honey blonde waves and hazel eyes that complemented her light skin. Next to the darker hair girls sat a boy with long curly brown hair and glasses that emphasized his brown eyes. Across from them and next to the blonde girl sat the other two boys. One with similar features to the girls in front of him which lead Maggie to believe them must be siblings. The last boy had a stoic expression and short dark hair and blue-grey eyes that stood out against his pale skin.
"Brought in a stray?" the stoic one mused, moving over slightly to give sitting room for Cedric.
Cedric shook his head in amusement as he took the seat next to his friend which left Maggie standing there with a strong feeling of being displaced. "She's a first year. Thought she could use some good company," Cedric replied, gesturing for Maggie to take a seat.
"Oh," the dark-haired girl mused, "I remember how shocking everything was back when I was a younging." She had a slight smile and she moved closer to the other girl (who Maggie was assuming to be her sister) making room for her. Maggie quickly accepted the silent invitation and sat down.
"Younging?" the taller dark hair girl snorted, "What does that make me? Ancient?"
The girl looked at the ceiling, pretending to ponder the question. "Uh yes, yes it does."
The girl scoffed and cuffed her head causing the other girl fake a yelp and the rest of the group to roll their eyes. Some with an amused smile on their faces.
"Oh we must come off so rude," the blonde girl sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I'm Sophie, sorry for their lack of manners."
"Oi Soph, so heartless for a Hufflepuff," the dark skin boy teased, bumping her shoulder.
Cedric, noticing how stiff Maggie was, gave her an apologetic smile.
"It's fine," Maggie said softly with a soft smile, "I'm Maggie Barker."
The stoic boy face cracked, showing a slimmer of amusement when he heard her accent. "An actual American hm? Seems you three's American status got trumped," he said, his voice far lighter than before. Maggie watched as the three light brown students flushed. Her brows furrowed. They seemed very british to her, at least their accents were.
"Oh shove it Adrian," the taller girl snipped which only caused Adrian to snort.
"Roselyn, Elena, and Mitchell's mum immigrated her from America," the long hair boy explained after noticing the confused look on Maggie's face.
"They held the entire school's attention because of that," Cedric spoke up, his voice held a teasing tone, "In their defense, it isn't often that children of a witch from the South Dakota Institute ends up at Hogwarts. They were a very hot topic for awhile."
"It was so bloody annoying," Mitchell whined as he rubbed his blushing cheek, "You ought to be prepared for that for the next couple weeks." The taller gave girl gave her brother an exasperated look which he returned with a sheepish smile. "Well c'mon Rosie, you know I'm right." Roselyn just shook her head.
Maggie couldn't help but groan at that. God that was going to be annoying and uncomfortable.
"It will be fine," Roselyn said, throwing the younger girl a smile, "Ignore the idiot, he is just a drama queen." Mitchell let out an exaggerated gasp of betrayal, but Roselyn just ignored it. "Why such the big move?" she asked, tilting her head.
With that it seemed everyone joined their own separate conversation. Elena was making small talk with the long hair boy while Cedric, Sophie, and Mitchell talked about something called Quidditch. Meanwhile, Adrian just closed his eyes and rested. He must be the more level headed one in the group. Maggie brought back her attention back to Roselyn.
"Uh, my mom and I moved around a lot. Just happened to end up here due to timing I guess."
Roselyn nodded, "I never heard the last name Barker before. You a half blood?"
"Half blood? Um no, Professor McGonagall said I'm a muggleborn."
With that news in the air, Adrian's eyes snapped open and his posture stiffen. Maggie couldn't help but wonder if she said something wrong.
"Problem with muggleborns Pucey?" Roselyn snapped, her brown eyes staring at him sharply. He glared back at her. The compartment got eerily quiet.
"I'm not my parents Williams," he spat out.
"I'm sure she didn't mean anything by thay Adrian," Cedric spoke calmly, quickly trying to bring back the light hearted atmosphere. Adrian shifted his glare towards the dark hair boy and opened his mouth to most likely to argue back before Sophie changed the conversation.
"Ahh a muggleborn. Do you know anything about the houses?" she asked quickly.
"Um only a little bit. Hogwarts: A History was a bit dull of a read for me," Maggie quickly responded. Thankfully the change in the conversation did the trick and shifted everyone's attention towards the new topic.
Sophie nodded her head sympathetically. "I remember reading that book when I was nine. I ended up finishing it when I was eleven." Mitchell snickered causing Sophie to elbow him.
"Any ideas of which House you would want to go in?" Cedric asked.
Maggie gave a weak shrug. "I don't really care if I'm being honest. I go in whatever house that is the best fit, they all seem fine to me anyways."
They nodded accepting her answer. "That is a very Slytherin answer if I must say," Elena said with a smirk.
"Pssh, she should join us in the badger den instead of the snake pit," the longer hair boy snorted. Elena rolled her eyes.
"Or, Weston, she can join us snakes. We have the better common room after all," Elena retorted.
"Or," Mitchell butted in, "she can try to get in the truly greatest and coolest house. Ravenclaw." Roselyn let out of large snort. "I would pity her if she ended up getting stuck in that poor house with the likes of you Mitchie,"
"What about Gryffindor?" Maggie asked when she noticed that was the only house that wasn't named.
Adrian scoffed, "Gryffindors," he sneered, "A bunch of loud, arrogant nuisances."
"Ignore his distaste, it is just house rivalry. Though he isn't exactly wrong. Those Weasley twins are something," Roselyn said, scrunching her nose as if she smelled something bad.
Maggie nodded her head empathetically. It seemed someone else had the same impression of the twins.
"Oh come on Rose," Elena sighed, "They aren't that bad."
Roselyn shook her head. "You aren't the one who has classes with them," she grumbled darkly. Sophie let out a hummed of agreement.
"Either way Maggie. It doesn't matter what house you are in, there are good people in all of them," Cedric said with a kind expression on his face. His kind smile slowly turned into a mischievous one as he added, "Though Hufflepuff does have the most." Sophie laughed in agreement, giving Cedric a high five along with Weston. While Roselyn sputtered in indignation, Maggie managed to hear Mitchell muttering how "Ravenclaw was easily the superior house" under his breath.
Their conversation came to a halt when their compartment door was slammed open. There standing in front of them was a girl with bushy brown hair that was several shades dark than her skins. She was quiet small yet the way she held herself gave off an aura of arrogance. The fact she was already wearing her school robes seemed to add it that effect. "Have you seen a toad," she asked rather bossily, "I'm helping Neville find it. It hopped away earlier."
Roselyn arched an eyebrow at the girl's tone while Cedric gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry," he said, "But we haven't come across any toads."
The bushy hair girl narrowed her eyes and gave an angry huffed before closing the door rather harshly and walked away.
"Well she was pleasant," Elena muttered.
"Doesn't matter, the girl had the right idea of being in her robes, we should probably get changed," Sophie said as she stood up, "Maggie you can come with us. If you boys don't mind but if the trolley lady comes could you buy a couple of chocolate frogs?"
Cedric gave her a warm smile, "It wouldn't be a problem Soph."
"But," Maggie interrupted, "I don't have much to pay y'all back."
The older students just shook their heads. "It's on us. Think of it as our welcome to Hogwarts gift ya?" Mitchell said. Sensing that they weren't going to change their minds, Maggie reluctantly agreed and followed the girls to go changed to her school robes.
When they came back, the boys seemed to have bought several different types of candies. "We ended up buying a several of everything," Adrian explained as he stood up.
"Thanks 'Drian," Roselyn yawned as she twirled her emerald tie that matched her sisters.
"Go ahead and knock yourselves out. We will be right back," Mitchell said. Quickly the boys shuffled out of the compartment, leaving the four girls to shift through the candies.
Maggie found that her favorite was the chocolate frogs, mostly due to the fact she loved chocolate. She was surprised with the card at the bottom of a moving picture of a witch name Bridget Wenlock who apparently established the magical properties of the number seven. However, Maggie was far more surprised when the chocolate frog leaped to life and on to the window. Thankfully it was quickly caught by Sophie who handed it back. "Don't worry," she said, "It isn't a real frog. It is merely enchanted."
When the boys came back they ended up playing Bertie Botts roulette. It was a simple game they made up was everyone handed a bean that they thought would contain a disgusting flavor to a different person. If they were correct they got a point, if they were wrong the victim got a point. Maggie managed to have mixed luck with these jelly like beans. She managed to get chocolate pudding flavor, toothpaste, peach, and steak. However, she also was unfortunate enough to get canned cat food, stunk, and grass clippings. Though she probably fared better than the others as Adrian managed to chew one that was rotten egg and Melena got stuck with one that was rotten fish.
As much as Maggie wished this could go on, the train had settled to a stop which signaled their arrival to an area Cedric called Hogsmeade.
"First years take the boats with Hagrid to Hogwarts," Cedric explained to her as they followed their friends of the train. Adrian gripped his luggage as well as Cedric's as he followed the group a different way. Maggie looked at him with confusion. "Aren't you going with them?" she asked.
"I thought that I will lead you to the other first years since you didn't exactly sit around the."
Maggie gave him a thankful smile and nodded her head. It was a peaceful silence as Cedric lead her to the rest of the first years. "I got to go catch the carriages before they leave without me," he said when they arrived where the first years were waiting, "Sophie, Weston, and I will leave a space open for you if you end up in Hufflepuff."
"Thanks Cedric," she said gratefully. He gave her a nod and rushed off the way they came leaving Maggie surrounded by strangers. In front of them was an extremely tall and heavy set man. Maggie saw tall people before, but never this tall. This man had to be a giant compared to most of the adults she had seen. He had wild and tangly dark hair and a dark beard that seemed to cover his face. His two dark eyes were like beetles on his tan and weathered face. This must be the Hagrid that Cedric had mention. A small frown grew on Maggie's face as an odd sensation came over here. She felt the hairs on her neck prickle up. With a quick shake of her head, she started to ignore the feeling. It must just be the nerves.
"C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" The man, Hagrid, yelled as he begun to walk away. Slowly the first years began to follow the giant. While most of the students in front of Maggie seemed to repeatedly slip and stumble on the steep, narrow path Maggie managed to regain her footing before she had a nasty fall. Maggie found a feeling of comfort as she walked in the sea of students. The tall surrounding trees gave her a sense of calming and home.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called out, "jus' round this bend here."
When they arrived to their location, a loud "Ooooh" filled the silence.
The narrow path had opened onto the edge of a great black lake. Resting atop a large mountain on the other side was a castle with many towers and gates.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, waving his large hands to a fleet of small boats resting in the shallow water by the shore.
Maggie quickly walked to a boat that was being occupied by three girls. "Is it okay if I join you," Maggie asked. The three girls gave her a curious look when they heard her voice gave her a nod.
Maggie later learned on the ride their names: Padma and Parvati Patil, who were twin sisters from a long line of pureblood witches and wizards who originated in India, and Lavender Brown, a friendly half-blood with a love for fashion.
The ride towards the Hogwarts castle was calming. Maggie enjoyed chatting with the three girls yet the strange sensation persisted through the entire boat ride. Maggie would say that was the oddest thing to happen, but that would be a lie. Instead, Maggie could've sworn she saw the familiar messy raven hair of Harry in another boat with a boy with the vibrant hair of the Weasley family she met near the Leaky Cauldron. Yet, she knew that couldn't be true. So with a shake of her head, Maggie turned her focus back to Lavender as she discussed what house she would love to be in.
Finally, the boats meet this odd underground harbor as they all climbed off the boats and walked onto the rocks and pebbles.
Maggie heard a boy exclaimed loudly the named Trevor and couldn't help but wonder if that was the Neville boy who lost his toad. Well, at least he found his pet if that was the case. Hagrid looked over the heads of first years as if he was doing a mental count of how many of them. While Maggie couldn't see that far ahead of her she was, however, able to hear Hagrid ask if everyone made it with that being followed by three loud knocks as he slammed his fists on the wooden door.
Next time we finally are able to get to the sorting and the plot finally gets to begin. Thanks for reading! Let me know what yall think, I love reading the feedback!
