A/N: Double update hell yeah! I hope everyone is enjoying the story. I'm still looking for face claims for my original characters. Anyways enjoy the double update!
Magnolia's POV:
I pushed my cart alongside Ginny, following behind Percy, behind us were the twins, while Ron and Harry brought up the end of our herd. Ginny gripped her cart, her knuckles nearly white.
"Gin, you've got nothing to worry about, trust me," I reassured her.
She gave me a weary smile and pushed herself ahead. Last night as we packed our trunks she admitted that she was nervous to get to Hogwarts. Who could blame her though, it was nerve-wracking being a Muggle-born learning about witchcraft, but I couldn't imagine what it'd be like if that was all I'd ever known.
"Come along now, we're going to be late," Molly called ahead, waving us along.
Molly pressed a kiss to Percy's head and then moved along to straighten out Ginny's sweater. Percy pushed through the platform. I took one last sweep over my cart before Molly gripped me in a snug hug against her side.
"Keep an eye on Ginny for me." She mumbled to me before joining Ginny's side and going through the platform with her.
George cut ahead of me as I went to push my cart with a laugh as he did so. I followed behind and Fred wasn't far off behind me. Molly and Percy helped Ginny load her trunk into the train quickly as the horn blew. I had to move quickly to load my trunk up and rush on the train.
I followed behind the twins to the cart Lee hung out from inside the train. He waved us down excitedly.
"Long time no see!" He playfully punched my shoulder as I passed him to the seat I usually took by the window.
Juniper and Roxy were sitting on the other seat huddled around a small leather journal.
"You move and then drop off the planet. Surprised you're still alive." Juniper looked at me between her lashes barely lifting her eyes from the journal.
"You realize she was using your owl to write to us, you dunce." Roxy rolled her eyes leaving the journal in Juniper's lap.
She moved over to the other side, stretching her legs on the seat beside me. Roxy had slimmed down more since I'd last seen her and stretched even taller now. Her fair skin was bronzing from her summer in the sun and her pale blonde hair had been cut right at her shoulders with lots of messy layers. It made her look older and mature. My cheeks were still round and soft, I probably looked like I'd easily blend in Ginny's class sitting beside Roxy.
She took a seat beside me stretching her legs across the seat, "How'd you survive with the troublemakers?" Roxy grinned glancing over at the three boys huddled together now.
"I managed well enough, they nearly got me sent home, however…" I recalled the rescue mission for Harry, "Fred was a much better driver than I'd anticipated, to be completely honest."
"I can hear you!" Fred quipped, sitting in front of me.
"I said you were better than anticipated. Which isn't entirely wrong or a bad thing." I thumped his head.
He waved me off and leaned his head back. "I'm exhausted, leave me alone, someone kept me up with their sleep talk again."
George blushed looking away innocently, "Don't worry Roxy does it too sometimes." Juniper said, tucking the journal away.
Roxy shrugged, "It could be worse. I could be sleep walking which is something my brother does and it's awful."
I glanced out the window at the familiar hills in the distance. I looked up, the sky was overcast as autumn began to roll in quickly as August came to an end. It was easy for me to fall back into the habit of watching as the train trudged away from London. I laid my head back and listened to the conversations of my friends as we reunited.
••••••
"I'm thinking of trying out for quidditch," Roxy said, "Mum thinks it'll be good for bonding with the rest of my family since they nearly all played for Ravenclaw."
"I bet Maggie could put a word in with Cedric since they're so close." Juniper giggled, throwing me a wink.
"I'm over that phase in my life." I rolled my eyes, I glanced down at Fred, his eyes were closed and he rested his head by my knee on the seat.
"I've got other things to be focusing on," I added with a mumble.
My fingers felt like they were tingling like I could still feel the fluttering of Fred's fingers as they danced around mine before his hand had dropped. He wasn't as confident as when James had held my hand. James had grabbed my hand with intent. It was odd, I wanted to know what it might have felt if Fred had grabbed my hand.
"Well, what's his name?" Roxy whispered, glancing at Fred, and across to George and Lee as they traded Chocolate Frog cards.
"We can discuss later," I replied, looking back out the window.
A pair of what looked like headlights flashed past the window. I sat up looking around for the source, where could headlights be coming from when we're on a single train railway. There wasn't anywhere a car could even be right now, unless… I had to be going mad. Those two couldn't possibly be dumb enough after how mad Molly had been.
"Have you guys seen Ron or Harry?" I hear Hermione's muffled voice from the hallway.
I nudged Fred's shoulder, his eye peaked open slightly, "Ron and Harry got on after us right?" I asked.
He shrugged weakly before closing his eyes again.
"George?" George looked up from his cards, I could hear Hermione get closer to our compartment, "Your brother and Harry were right behind us, right?" I asked.
He gave me an identical shrug before going back to his conversation with Lee. I looked out the window again, this wasn't going to be good. They had to have got on, we just must have missed them.
Hermione popped up in the entryway, "Have you seen Ron and Harry?" She mumbled nervously.
"No luck." Juniper shook her head, "Did you try asking that odd kid with the frog?"
"Neville." Hermione corrected, "And he hasn't seen them either. If you see them will you tell them to come find me?"
Juniper gave her a salute and sent her on her way. My stomach turned, as I thought about it, I don't remember them getting on the train at all. Had they even made it on the platform? A flash of light blue passed the window. I stood up quickly, excusing myself from the compartment. Roxy began asking George questions on how she should go about joining the quidditch team.
I had to see for myself that those two made it on the train. They were slowly being pests in my life but I didn't want Molly to have any more stress than she already had. Hermione wasn't too far from where we had been sitting. She was peeking into the next compartment asking for Harry and Ron.
"Hermione, come here." I waved her over.
"Do you know where they might be?" She asked, concerned.
"I thought they got in after us but I suppose not. I'll help you look." I offered, I had to make sure I wasn't going mad.
Hermione and I walked the rest of the carts searching for the two boys. My suspicions were still not confirmed but it wasn't looking good. Hermione went back to her seat defeated, I couldn't tell her my guess at where they'd been. She tried to write it off as they've just been in the right places at the wrong times.
When I got back to the cart, Fred had moved up to where I had sat. "Where'd you run off to?" He asked.
"I was just stretching my legs." I lied. They hadn't seemed concerned about where the two younger boys had been, so I didn't want to let them know I was worried. They'd just make fun of me, even if Ron had annoyed me.
"I would've gone with you, could've caught up with the trolley lady." Fred moved closer to the window opening the seat
"Oh well, guess you just have to wait until our Hogsmeade trip for you to stock up on sweets." I teased.
"I don't even have snickerdoodles to tie me over." He groaned.
Lee perked his head up, "I wasn't going to ask, but I noticed no sweets?" He joined. "It's okay if you didn't, I was just hoping for a lemon square."
I scoffed, "I am more than just a supply for a sugar addiction. It's good for you three to be without sweets this early on." I rolled my eyes.
The sun was setting and we were getting closer to the school with every passing minute. I was still anxious but I was trying my hardest to push it away. My fingers tapped nervously on my knee. Each finger moved as if it pressed buttons. I tried focusing on Juniper chatting about her summer abroad. She hadn't shared much in any of her letters.
"I loved the states, there was a certain charm about the whole place that was so lovely." Juniper mused, flooding into stories of her trip. "Demi met a chap that was a delight too, he properly swept her off her feet. At least so she claims, we'll have to see how long that lasts."
Fred nudged my knee, the tapping hadn't stopped. I forced a smile, returning the gesture by nudging his knee. I felt his hand rest on top of mine freezing my busy fingers. He leaned forward joining Lee and George's conversation, even after I stopped tapping his hand rested on mine. I felt like I could pay attention to what Juniper was saying.
"Maggie, you'd love New York!" Juniper didn't skip a beat into her explanation made up of a string of comparisons between London and the Big Apple as she kept calling it.
I nodded along, half agreeing to her suggestions.
"Enough about my trip, what about you, Rox?" She finally finished.
Roxy gasped dramatically, "You're giving me a chance to share my story?" She teased. Juniper shrunk with a pout.
"I enjoyed Paris, it was nice. Not much to share other than that." Roxy shrugged. "I know you've got more to tell about the states, so I encourage you to carry on."
So Juniper did. She told me every detail she could remember from her trip. It had been the farthest she had ever traveled, and it was the last summer holiday she would spend with Demi so they had crammed as much as they could in their time there.
••••••
Magnolia stepped from the train still unsure of where Ron and Harry were. It was making her anxious but she tried to ignore the feeling that was eating at her. Roxy and Juniper stood on either side of her working as a barrier and guide ahead.
"I'm sure the little worms are fine." Juniper nudge at Magnolia.
"They're probably just hiding from Hermione, you know she can be kind of a party pooper." She added.
Magnolia knew she had to sort of be right, they'd managed to figure out what a nutter Professor Quirrell was before anyone else had. Magnolia went along behind her friends, ignoring the thought. Her stomach grumbled in anticipation of her first Hogwarts feast of the year.
Everyone had quickly changed into their uniforms, our trunks stacked along the hallways as we walked to the Great Hall. The rich smell of roasted chicken and baked ham filled their noses. As the students of Hogwarts filed into the hall and flooded to their house tables, the comfortable chatter filled the walls. Friends and classmates reuniting after months apart, first-year witches and wizards nervously chattering beside their peers as they lined up awaiting the sorting hat.
Ginny stood beside a wispy-haired blonde girl. She was petite, with hair much like Roxy's except this young girl had hers spun back in twists pinned out of her face. She had plump round cheeks despite her small frame. The blonde girl dazed off, looking all around the room hazily. Ginny took a step forward as she was waved over to take her place on the stool.
The hat barely covered her head before shouting, "Gryffindor!"
Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table as Fred and George stood up clapping excitedly as their baby sister smiled brightly before joining the table. Percy gave her a side hug gripping her to his side. Ginny was a sure thing for Gryffindor, she was exactly where she meant to be.
Magnolia didn't pay much other attention to the sorting after Ginny had been through. Her mind was more on getting to eat. The last first-year finally took her seat at the Ravenclaw table.
Dumbledore stepped up to the front of the great hall from the table of professors. He went down the line introducing all of the professors, along with the heads of each house. Gilderoy Lockhart stood up from the table.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Magnolia groaned.
"Gilderoy Lockhart has come to join as the new professor for Defense Against The Dark Arts," Dumbledore announced.
Magnolia gave Juniper and Roxy a look of disgust. She was going to be spending a year with an imbecile for a professor. Magnolia had no interest in spending class time she could be learning spells that could protect her, on listening to a self-absorbed annoyance.
Lockhart cleared his throat, "I'm so honored to be welcomed here with such a feast before us. Now although I am one to make time for my fans, I am here to pass my knowledge along to you all." He began droning on.
Magnolia looked across the great hall and met Fred's eyes. He smiled at her before he began to mimic the movements Lockhart made. Magnolia watched as Fred dramatically mouthed along to his yammering, biting back laughter. Roxy glanced over and had to fight her own giggles as Fred ramped up his performance. Percy quickly shot his brother a disapproving look, which made Fred stop just as Lockhart wrapped his elongating speech. However, Fred kept a smug grin on his lips.
Lockhart finally finished and took his seat, Dumbledore didn't give any other time for introductions. He waved his hands, encouraging the students to finally fill their plates. Magnolia scooped roasted carrots on her plate, adding a few extras before moving on to stacking up a small pile of sliced ham.
Magnolia went to bed with a full stomach. She still hadn't seen Ron and Harry but she knew they couldn't have anything happen to them. After all, Hogwarts was a large school, there was plenty she had never discovered before. They could easily have slipped through without her being able to notice. Juniper plopped on her bed happily. Roxy in the bed by the door as she liked it, and Magnolia was in the middle below the window.
There was a sudden sense of comfort as Magnolia's head hit the pillow. She hadn't realized how tight her back was getting from sleeping on the makeshift bed on Ginny's bedroom floor. The beds at Hogwarts were softer than any Muggle mattress Magnolia has ever slept on, one of the things she loved about the school. Magnolia was home again and it felt good.
••••••
Magnolia adjusted her tie, smoothing out the length down her chest. Today marked the first official day of classes, she had picked up Divination and Care For Magical Creatures for her electives. After Magnolia had grabbed that copy of Caring for Bowtruckles, it had seemed to pique her interest; Even if it was just a panicked blind grab. Magnolia packed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Her hair was neatly French braided in two braids, just like she had practiced all summer. Magnolia found that two small braids were much easier for her hands to manage on her head, but her mum let her practice on her and Sophia of course.
"What class do we have first?" Roxy asked, brushing through her long blonde hair. Her hair had grown past her waist, stretching her body even more than her height already had.
"After breakfast, we've got Transfiguration, then I think we will go to DADA." Magnolia read from her written schedule on her bedside table. Roxy and Juniper chorused a groan at the mention of Defense Against the Dark Art, as they'd now been formally introduced to the professor so graciously as Lockhart had along with his personal welcome speech to himself.
The three girls had no problem falling into the routine of unpacking their trunks. Their space almost looked the same as they had in the dorm they had shared the year prior. Magnolia had woken up first as she usually did, Roxy tossed and turned for a while before she woke up some time while Magnolia had braided her hair as Demi had taught her. Juniper was still sitting on her bed half wrapped in her blankets when Roxy and Magnolia were dressed and ready for classes. The girl was usually a late riser.
"I'm thinking of dropping divination," Juniper grumbled tiredly.
"You haven't even gone to one class yet." Roxy pointed out.
"Demi has gotten it in my head that Trelawney is mad, M'not entirely sure I want to deal with that again," Juniper replied, she stayed planted on her bed as she started changing. "Look at what happened last year when a babbling nut job was walking the halls."
"She's made it much longer than a year, I'd say she's plenty clear enough for me." Magnolia shrugged.
Juniper shook her head, causing her curls to fall from their scrunched state as she pulled her undershirt over her head.
"Then take the free period for yourself. I'm interested to see what it's like." Magnolia sighed.
Roxy gave Juniper a sympathetic smile before grabbing her bag. "Maggie has a point, June." Roxy agreed. "Trelawney has been here longer than the last two defense professors we've had, I say Lockheart is more likely a nutter." Roxy always had a much softer spoken voice, it sort of shocked Magnolia at the point she made, so she just hid a small smirk behind her shoulder.
Juniper groaned, "I'll give it a chance but I'm not promising to enjoy it."
Magnolia shook her head, Juniper was always one for theatrics. She was always stubborn about agreeing right away. Juniper was always one to try something but not without a little fight first. Magnolia waved her roommates goodbye and departed to the common room.
Magnolia had plans to meet up with the twins before breakfast to go over a game plan for dealing with Lockheart. She usually attempted to talk Fred and George out of their pranks. Something about the man rubbed her entirely the wrong way after her first encounter, his pastel-colored suit, manicured fingers, and pretty boy attitude did not entirely match the awards or praise he had received for his work.
For the first time, Magnolia felt like she was finally confident in how she got around the school. She knew when the stairs were going to switch and when to avoid Peeves in the main halls. She held her head higher, knowing where she was headed. Magnolia felt completely comfortable in the walls of Hogwarts.
Cedric stood in the upper level with Liam and Ernie laughing about someone the other boys had said. Magnolia tried ignoring him and keeping her head drawn forward, his laugh carried throughout the common room, filling the space.
"Maggie!" He called from above, as she passed.
Magnolia couldn't ignore him, she turned on her heel, looking up to the older boys. Cedric waved the other two goodbyes and came down the steps.
"How was your summer?" He smiled.
Magnolia didn't understand how he could just talk to her like everything was normal.
"It was good. How was yours?" Magnolia said cordially.
Cedric didn't miss a step moving into stories of his holiday, Magnolia felt herself tune out "I missed you, Maggie." Magnolia heard that.
"Thank you." She mumbled awkwardly, "I've actually got plans this morning but…" Magnolia saw his smile falter and it made her heart drop, "We'll catch up later." She spits out quickly, as she pointed her finger out in an awkward gesture.
Magnolia picked the gesture up around Willow whenever she had seen her dodge flirtation from men at the bookstore. She thought sometimes Willow looked like one of the shoot-out scenes from the old Westerns Mrs. Sheffield used to flick on if it was rainy out when Magnolia had gone by as a child. It was a quick and easy way to signal you were leaving, Magnolia tried convincing herself as she slipped away from Cedric.
Magnolia didn't turn her head back, she had no real hard feelings about the fact her first kiss was from him. What bothered her was the fact he could hold her hand and make her feel all those jittery feelings, making her believe for just a second he might like her back. Unfortunately Magnolia had too big of a heart sometimes, and it'd get the best of her.
Magnolia took the corner much quicker than she planned, thudding into someone. Her bottom hit the ground, an ache on her butt was already forming. Her eyes scanned upwards, looking at the Slytherin tie her eyes flicked upwards quickly. Sam stood above her looking back down annoyed.
"You really don't watch where you're going, do you?" He shook his head.
Magnolia was surprised to see his hand stretched out towards her, she looked at him sideways, "Well take it or stay on the ground." Sam spoke again.
She reached up gripping his hand letting him pull her up. Magnolia was shocked to see him offering to help her considering he didn't particularly like her. He looked down at her while she dusted herself off.
"Thanks." Magnolia mumbled, "I should be going."
Sam nodded, "I'd recommend you look at glasses." He smirked before walking away.
Magnolia felt awkward but pushed past it as best as she could. Sam had been very different when they were alone, compared to when she had George nearby for backup, Sam had been there offering his hand. He smiled at her which was shocking enough, a smirk was still a smile, it was an odd gesture from him, to say the least.
••••••
Magnolia's POV:
Maggie,
George and I need your assistance, meet us at the Fat Lady's portrait in the morning.
The note was crumpled in my pocket. Hannah Abbot, a Hufflepuff girl just one year behind me, brought it to our dorm last night.
Demi was lounging on a spare bed in our room again when she came by, "Hope they're paying you for your services." She had said to Hannah who left with a confused shrug.
We started up the moving staircase, Roxy had her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun at the top of her head. Juniper on other hand, let her ringlets free. Ron and Harry head down the steps as the staircase clicked into place.
"I heard that howler you got the other day, Ron." Juniper chuckled. Ron's cheeks warmed up, staining pink.
"It's not your business." He pouted, glancing at me with tight lips.
"You crashed a flying car in a tree that's been standing on the grounds for years, you made it everyone's business." Roxy teased. He pushed past them dragging Harry along behind him.
I bit my lip fighting a grin, I watched as he disappeared down the stairs with Harry. I kept climbing up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. The portrait of the Fat Lady welcomed us at the top of the stairs with a loud operatic tune.
"Magnolia, what are you doing on the other side of the castle?" Another portrait asked.
"Getting myself into trouble again, of course." I smiled.
"Let's hope not too much!" Another added. I nodded back.
Juniper and Roxy sat down on the steps, stretching out on them comfortably as we watched Gryffindor students leave their common room left and right, waving at us awkwardly as they passed, probably confused as to why three Hufflepuff third years sat on the stairs.
I lifted my head when I heard Lee's laugh, George and Fred making faces at Lee like his personal pair of clowns.
"Took you long enough." I groaned.
"We had to get our stuff together," George smirked, glancing at the bag held in Fred's hand.
"Come on now, we haven't got much time," Fred said, leading the way.
"Just gauging the situation but on a scale of one to ten how much trouble will this be getting me in?" I asked hesitantly.
They grinned at each other before I felt them each pats me on the back, "You've got nothing to worry your pretty head about." Fred chuckled.
"One to ten?" I repeated.
"At most seven, detention and a few lost house points. Nothing too crazy." George shrugged nonchalantly.
I turned to Juniper and Roxy who just shook their heads at me, "You've gotten yourself wrapped up in not me." Roxy laughed.
Juniper gave a sympathetic smile before slipping ahead to join Lee's side. He leaned over murmuring something that made her giggle.
"What's this plan after all?" I finally asked.
"Well, the first thing we have to do is find Lockhart," Fred replied simply.
"Seems like it's gonna be more than a seven, Maggie," Roxy smirked.
I rolled my eyes, and let out an annoyed sigh, which the twins took as an invitation to spill their master plan. Although the trouble they were going to be me in was worrying. It felt good to know everything was feeling normal aside from Lockhart being obnoxious, for once. Hogwarts was my second home, the place I felt comfortable in the chaotic antics of my friends.