Chapter Two
Gabriella Hofstra placed her final item into her Hogwarts trunk. Reaching behind her, she picked up a sticker she had bought from the mall earlier in the week. Peeling off the white backing, she scanned over the trunk for the perfect placement. It was lyrics from The Doors song 'People are Strange'. Taking a step back to review her artwork, she noticed the supply list for her school. It was sent out a few months back. Gabby loved when owl post came. Their house did not get the Daily Prophet every day like most wizards did, but once a week on Sundays. Like clockwork, as she finished setting the breakfast table there would be a tapping on the window over the sink. Gabby's mother would sweep over, open the window, and fetch the newspaper from the ministry's owl. Then it was Gabby's turn. Running to the cupboard she would grab a biscuit and bring it to the window. Gently, the owl would reach down and pluck it from her hand. The simple memory placed a smile on Gabby's face. She loved Sundays for just that one reason. Bending down, she snapped the latch on the trunk closed.
On the other side of her bedroom door there were faint sounds of footsteps. With fresh enthusiasm, Gabby collected the random objects she left out to put in her knapsack for the train ride. Just as the last item dropped in her bag the door opened.
"All packed and ready to go?" Her father stepped inside and glanced around the room. With out listening for an answer, he crossed the room and sat on the small twin bed positioned against the far wall of the room. Settling down on top of the neatly mad sheets, he reached for a small stuffed animal resting on a single pillow.
"Not taking Mr. Rat again. He gets awfully lonely here without you. I'm sure you could squeeze him in some where in your trunk." He smiled down at her and handed her the stuffed toy. She reached out and grabbed it. Perring down at the old rat in her hand she noticed how tattered it had gotten. She has had it her whole life. Its place was always right on her bed. Two years ago, she lost her nostalgia for it and left it in a box she shoved in the back of her closet right before she left for school. When she had returned for summer break it appeared back on her bed. Spring cleaning had taken her mother by storm and nothing was safe. Even the dark corners of her room. She had come home to it placed neatly back on her bed on top of a new comfortable. A welcome home gift.
Tossing her childhood friend back on the bed, Gabby shoved her hands into the straps of her trunk. With one big heave she tried dragging it towards the door.
"Alright Little Toe, I'll bring this downstairs. Go see if your mother needs help." Her father chuckled as he placed himself on the other side of the massive trunk. Gabby straightened up, snatched her bag, and hurried downstairs to find her mother.
Pounding down the stairs she first checked the living room, then the front yard. Flipping around and sprinting down the hall, she found her mother in the kitchen placing donuts from a box onto a serving plate. Looking up from her task, Gabby's mother smiled at her daughter. Placed in the crook of her neck was the kitchen phone. The long cord trailing on the floor and up into the wall mount next to the back door. She was chatting on the phone while also setting up the breakfast for her family.
"Yes, I'm looking at her now. Are you all set," Gabby's mother asked glancing up at her? She switched the phone to her other shoulder and moved to toss the box in the garbage. Turning from Gabby, her mother reached in the fridge and grabbed the creamer. Heading to the coffee maker her mother pours a cup, adds some creamer, and hands it to her daughter. "Just how you like it."
Gabby took the mug and looked at its contents. Too much cream and no sugar. Placing the mug on the kitchen counter, the young girl chose a seat across her at the kitchen table. She is going to miss her mother. She always seems so put together. Well-manicured, perfectly groomed, and happy. She wanted to be that happy. Grown up with everything in place. Her mother caught her eye and winked at her while she still chatted away. Gabby smile back.
Heavy thuds could be heard from the stairway. Her father was bringing her luggage down. Her mother looked up startled and laughed. "Barb, let me let you go. Leon is bringing Gabriella's stuff to the car." Her mother ran over to the receiver and hung up the phone. Moving past her daughter she rushed over to the stairs. Pulling out her wand she called up to him, "need my help dear?" They both locked eyes and smiled at each other. With her mother's help the car was packed with ease.
The car ride to the train station was peaceful. Gabby sat in the back seat listening to the classic rock station her father tuned the radio to. She was about to start her sixth year of school. So much has changed since last year. What will the school year bring? She wanted to be there already. She wanted class to start. She wanted to be sitting in her common room surrounded by her house mates doing homework or listening to their summer stories. How did everyone else fair the last few months?
Pulling up to Kings Cross station was packed as expected. They had left early to give themselves plenty of time to unload and get to the platform before all the compartments where taken. While Gabby's father went to grab a dolly, her and her mother had the task of trying to remove the oversize luggage from the boot of their car. Glancing around her mother whipped out her wand and tapped the trunk lightly while whispering "Reducio." The trunk shrank by a quarter and they were able to easily remove it from the car. Just as the trunk slipped out, her father came with the dolly.
All three of them made their way through the station. Dressed in muggle cloths and no outlandish animal with them, they blended right in. On the way to platform 9 ¾ Gabby's father stopped at an ice cream stand. "How bought it? My treat," he announced cheerfully to the group. Gabby decline but he was persistent. Soon everyone was holding a double scoop of their choice. Sitting at one of the benches next to the ice cream stand the Hogwarts student looked down at her cold treat. Cotan Candy swirl. She could not remember the last time she ordered this flavor. She was more of a of a fudge brownie girl now.
Her mother grabbed her attention when she said, "Do you not like it? Did you want a different favor?"
"A different flavor? Not Little Toe! That is her favorite. Everything alright LT?" Her father leaned over to check on her. Gabby's stomach twinged and cramped up. She reached up to hold her abdomen.
Shaking her head, she refuted. "Just year jitters. I just want to get settled on the train and not worry about anything."
With that, her mother reached over, rubbered her shoulder and declared their ice cream break over. All together, they got up and returned to their journey to the platform. While looking out for muggle eyes, they made their way through the brick wall.
"You don't need to wait around. I want to get a good seat and the train will not take off for a bit. This way you can beat traffic," Gabby stated to both her parents. Her father hugged her, and she kissed her mother goodbye. Leaving her trunk to be stored by the porters, she made her way onto the train. Walking down the carpeted corridor she glanced into the compartments. Most where empty still so she moved to the booth she sat with last year with her friend Hannah Abbot. They had sat there with a few of Hannah's other friends. She picked the seat next to the window so she can do some people watching. It was about 10 minutes before the station started to get really crowded. All the different families saying goodbye.
Hannah Abbot appeared. She was dragging her dolly up to the train. Her new owl tucked inside its cage. She had gotten it last year after becoming a prefect. A gift from her parents for a job well done. Smiling to herself, Gabby knew Hannah had earned it. Their group had spent many late nights writing and cramming for test and finals. If anyone deserved it, it was her friend. She watched her friend roam back and forth the platform meeting up with more and more of her friends. Waving goodbye to family and friends, she noticed her friend start to make her way onto train. Poking her head through the sliding door, Gabby waited for Hannah to appear. After a moment she spotted her and waved her down. The gagle of girls made their way down.
As Hannah got closer a smile spread across her face. Quickly bridging the gap between them Hannah opened her arms and embraced Gabby in a hug. Gabby sank in and hugged her back. While still entwined Hannah asked, "Why haven't I heard from you all summer? I thought you were mad at me until just now when you waved." Breaking the hug and kept her friend at and arm's length away. "Is everything ok?"
With a shy smile Gabby shrugged and replied, "You know me. I am the worst at communication. But I am glad to see you. I saved a compartment for all of us."
"Oh of course," Hannah exclaimed, "But I'll be a while. I have to change and do my prefect rounds." She gave a sad smile to Gabby and the group. "But you guys feel free to hang out while I work. I'll be back later!" She ended the last bit as she already started to walk away leaving and awkward silence in the air.
After a few seconds of staring around at each other Gabby mused, "Well I am going to sit down, you don't have to bunk in here with me if you guys made other plans. It is no big deal." It seemed like enough to break the tension and the group laughed as they all parted ways. Waiting for the area to clear, Gabby stepped back into her compartment. Sitting back down at her window seat, she continued onlooking.
Enjoying her peace, Gabby notices a large group making its way to the train. It was Harry Potter accompanied by a massive scroungy dog. She had never seen anyone bring their dog to a send off before. "I wonder if that's his only family member left," she whispered aloud. Trailing after Harry was Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. All three were a year behind her in school but of course, everyone knew who these three are. Something seemed off though. She could tell in their body language that there was tension. But they said their goodbyes and the group headed on the train followed by the other Weasleys.
Closer to her own window she saw the Malfoy family. Immaculately dress as usual. Just like every picture she had seen them in. He showed up already dress in his uniform. Gabby saw Mrs. Malfoy fussing over his robes and glimpsed a metallic spark. Gabby took a sharp breathy in. A prefect's badge. That is probably not good.