KIERA


Four weeks later found myself in my bedroom, lying face down on my bed and reading an especially interesting book I had gotten along with my school textbooks. A weak croak distracts me from my reading and I found that my dreaded pet frog, Veronica had escaped her terrarium again. With a sigh, I scooped up the slimy animal and put him back in her home, this time double-checking that the lid was locked in place. I would not be bringing this nuisance of a frog with me to Hogwarts, she was too much trouble. The only reason I had her was that my guardian needed her slime for some potions, so I was given it as a somewhat decent tenth birthday gift. I didn't really like animals in the first place, they always died in my hands and it was a miracle Veronica was still alive. I had a sneaking suspicion that the house-elves were responsible for the frog's unfortunate well-being.

With Veronica safely back in her terrarium, I glanced at the clock I kept on my nightstand to find that it was nearly 11:20 on September 1st. I had forty minutes to get to King's Cross Station before the Hogwarts Express departed for the school. Not that I was worried, I would be using floo powder, as always, and I was ready to leave at a moments notice. I decided that now was as good a time as any to leave since I had been so rudely interrupted.

I scooped up my satchel, which had certain charms on it to expand the inside and make it lighter, then hurried downstairs. Before I reached the ground floor, I paused. This was the last time I would be seeing this old house until the summer holiday because I doubted I would be allowed back for any other holiday. I slowed my pace, taking in the old house I had grown up in. Gray walls in every room, dark hardwood or gray carpet on every floor, barely any furniture. My home was dull, but it was home and it was comfortable. Most of the decor was chosen by my guardian, but I was able to add a bookshelf and desk to my room. I was sort of glad to be leaving it, but I knew I would secretly miss it. I shook my head, not time to get sentimental. I needed to be at the station.


I stepped quickly out of the fire to avoid collision with anyone else that planned on using the floo network to get to Platform 9 ¾. Dragging my trunk, which I cleverly added wheels to, with one hand, I pushed through the throngs of people. It was only about 11:30, so many of the less organized students *cough* Gryffindors *cough* hadn't arrived yet, and that meant prime seating for me.

As per usual, my guardian couldn't come with me, so I was alone as I climbed onto the train. I walked down the corridor on the lavish train, searching for an empty compartment, because there was no way I would purposely sit with anyone, annoying or not. Not too far away from the train doors, I spotted an empty compartment and I hastily claimed. With some difficulty, I was able to lift the trunk over my head and onto a shelf above the seats. Thankful that I was not squashed by my trunk, I plopped down on a seat and took out Hogwarts: A History, the book I had been reading this morning. Leaning against the wall and tucking my legs underneath me, I began to read.

Much to my annoyance, multiple students filtered onto the train and started talking. I glared down at my book but continued to read, trying to block out the nose. It wasn't long before almost every compartment was full, except for mine. Maybe my glaring had done the trick and nobody would want to sit with me. No such luck.

The door to my compartment slid open. Sighing, I looked up to see who dared to sit with me and I was surprised to see the boy from Madam Malkin's awkwardly standing in the doorway. Two red-head older boys, that looked to be twins, stood behind him with a trunk in their hands, possibly the first boy's.

"May I sit with you? Rest of the train is full," the younger boy asked shyly. I nodded my head in confirmation, then returned to my book. The boy hesitated for a bit, then helped the older boys lift his trunk to a spot on top of the other seat.

"What's that?" One of the red-haired twins asked. I looked up again and saw the twin pointing at a scar at the dark-haired boy's forehead. When I studied it closer, I realized it was shaped like lighting. My eyes widened, could this be…?

"Blimey," the other twin said, interrupting my thoughts, "Are you-?"

"He is." The first twin looked amazed, and I couldn't blame him. "Aren't you?"

"What?" The poor boy asked with confusion. He couldn't possibly not realize what we were all gaping at.

"Harry Potter," the red-heads chorused together.

"Oh, him," the boy said with surprise, "I mean yes, I am," he quickly corrected. The older ones stared at him, surprise written upon their faces, and I found myself doing the same. Harry Potter, sitting next to me? The boy who somehow defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was standing right in front of me, and I haven't even had the decency to say 'hello'. I tried to fight back my amazement, just like my uncle had taught me to if I ever met this boy, but after all the stories I heard of him when growing up, it was quite difficult.

Before anything else could be said, a feminine voice shouted from outside the train, "Fred, George, are you there?"

"Coming, mum," one twin said, then the two of them left without another word. Harry Potter sat down on the seat, looking extremely relieved to have ended that conversation. I decided it would be best not to say anything; from his reaction after the gawking the boys had done, I doubt he would like any more of it.

I forced myself to look down at my book, though I really wasn't reading it; I just didn't want to make Harry Potter anymore uncomfortable.

More voices filtered through the open window and I could hear the same voice of the twin's mother talking to a boy named Ron about something on his nose. From the sound of the boy's voice when he told her to get off, he didn't appreciate the gesture.

"Ahhh…. Has ickle Ronny have something on his nosy?" One of the twins teased. 'Ikcle Ronny' quickly told him to shut up.

"Where's Percy?" The mother asked, interrupting the small argument.

"He's coming now."

"Can't stay long, mother. I'm upfront," a new voice announced with an air of importance. "The Prefects have got two compartments to themselves." So this boy was a Prefect, it would explain the self-important note to his voice.

"Ohhh, are you a Prefect Percy?" A twin said with surprise, "You should have said something. We had no idea."

"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," the other twin said, "Once, or twice, a minute, all summer-"

"Oh, shut up!" The Prefect exclaimed.

"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" A twin asked. Honestly, how their mother could tell them apart at all was beyond me.

"Because he's a Prefect," the mother said fondly. "All right dear, well, have a good term. Send me an owl when you get there." She paused. "Now, you two. This year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl, telling me you've, you've blown up a toilet or-"

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet. Great idea, though. Thanks, mum!"

"It's not funny!" The woman exclaimed, "And look after Ron."

"Don't worry, ickle Ronny-kins is safe with us."

"Shut up," Ickle Ronny-kins said sharply.

"Hey, mom, guess what, guess who we just met on the train?" The boy across from me suddenly leaned back, away from the window he had been looking out of. "You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?"

"Who?"

"Harry Potter!"

A shrill voice, possibly that of a young girl, shouted, "Oh, mum, can I go on the train and see him? Mum, oh, please?"

"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo," the mother said sternly. I had to say I quite agreed with her. "Is he really, Fred, how do you know?"

"Asked him, saw his scar. It's really there, like lightning," a twin, the one I supposed was Fred, told her excitedly.

"Poor dear, no wonder he was alone. I wondered, he was ever so polite when he asked how to get onto the platform."

"Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?"

The mother scolded the boy, "I forbid you to ask him, Fred. Now, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school."

"All right, keep your hair on."

A whistle sounded through the air, promptly sending the family into action. "Hurry up!" The mother exclaimed. I could only guess that those of the family that was attending Hogwarts jumped onto the train and waved goodbye to their mother.

The young girl began to cry at the parting. "Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls!"

"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat!" One joked.

"George!"

"Only joking, mum!"

The train started with a jolt and my usual grace nearly made me fall out of my chair. Speeding up, the train soon pulled out of the station, leaving behind London and all its inhabitants. A sick feeling of nervousness settled into my stomach and I couldn't help wondering if I would always feel this way when leaving home. Surely I wouldn't in years to come. Not after experiencing the joys of Hogwarts that I heard so many witches and wizards tell me with wondrous voices. I suppose I would just have to wait and see.

Just as it had nearly moments ago, the door to my shared compartment slid open. I looked up for what felt like the hundredth time this morning to see a young, red-headed boy with pale skin covered with freckles standing awkwardly in the hall. What is it with boys and standing awkwardly?

"Anyone sitting there?" He asked, pointing to the seat next to me. "Everywhere else is full," he explained. Harry looked at me and I moved my feet with reluctance while Harry shook his head at the freckled boy. He sat down, sending an apprehensive look towards me, which I pointedly ignored, glanced at Harry, the moved his gaze to the window quickly. Obviously, this boy wanted to stare at the two of us but didn't want to be rude.

"Hey, Ron?" The red-head twins, who I guessed to be the freckled boy's brothers, appeared in the doorway. "Listen, we're going down the middle of the train. Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."

"Right."

"Harry," the other twin said, looking to the boy, "Did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley, and this is Ron, our brother. 'Fraid don't know who she is, though." I rolled my eyes as he gestured to me.

"Kiera," I mumbled. I didn't dare say my last name lest they immediately get as far away from me as possible. I had a… rather disliked family member that taught at Hogwarts.

Realizing I wasn't going to elaborate, one of the twins said, "All right, see you later then."

The two younger boys called bye to the twins as they left, but I didn't bother. I only knew their names, anyway, and I didn't think that warranted a 'goodbye' from myself.

As soon as they closed the door behind them, Ron spoke up. "Are you really Harry Potter?" I inwardly groaned; boys could be so dense. Harry nodded, though I saw some hesitation and embarrassment in it. "Oh, well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes." He paused, "And have you really got, you know?" Ron pointed up at Harry's forehead.

Harry, possibly expecting this, moved his hair out of the way to show the famed lightning scar on his forehead. Ron stared at the mark and even I couldn't help but glance at it for a little too long.

"So, that's where You-Know-Who…" Ron trailed off, but Harry answered his unspoken question quickly.

"Yes," said Harry, "But I can't remember it."

"Nothing?" Ron gapped.

"Well, I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else," Harry explained.

"Wow," said Ron, staring at Harry, then, remembering his mother's words, quickly looked away. There was a pause in the conversation, and I took it to mean that it was over so I could read my book, but no, Harry had to ask a few questions of his own.

"Are all your family wizards?" Harry asked with interest.

"Ah, yes, I think so. I think Mum has a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

"So you must know loads of magic already."

I must admit, I was a little curious of this myself. My guardian was a wizard, but he rarely taught anything on magic. Most of the stuff I knew I had read about in a book without his knowledge; he didn't want me getting into trouble the first few days of school for a jinx I sent at Malfoy, which was a very real possibility.

"I heard you went to go live with muggles. What are they like?" Ron questioned him in turn.

"Horrible," said Harry, "Well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are though. Wish I had three wizard brothers."

"Five," said Ron, "I'm the six in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left. Bill was Headboy and Charlie was captain of quidditch. Now Percy's a Prefect, Fred and George mess around a lot but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat." Ron brought out a fat, old, gray rat that was not appealing in the slightest. "His name's Scabbers and he's useless. He hardly ever wakes up. Percy's got an owl from Dad for being made a Prefect, but they couldn't afford- I mean, I got Scabbers instead."

His ears turned pink after his rant, then he went back to looking out the window. From the sound of it, it sounded awful to have so many siblings, but at least you had company. I always lived alone with my guardian, I never played with any kids or talked to anyone, since I lived around muggles and all. My guardian didn't like them all that much, and it was too dangerous when I started showing signs of magic. It all ended up to be a rather lonely life, but I was sorta okay with it. More time for reading and learning and such.

Probably wanting to cheer Ron up, Harry went to explain what his life had been like before. He had to wear all of his cousin's old clothes that were much too large for him and he never had gotten any decent birthday presents. It sounded dreadful and I was quietly glad I had never been locked in such a small space under the stairs.

"And until Hagrid told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard, or about my parents, or Voldemort." Ron and I gasped, and Harry looked at us in surprise, probably partially from our reaction and partially to the fact I had been listening. "What?"

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" Exclaimed Ron. "I'd of thought you, of all people."

"I'm not trying to be brave, or anything, saying the name. I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean, I've got loads to learn. I bet, inner I'm the worst in the class." Harry sighed, looking downhearted.

"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from muggle families and they learn quick enough," Ron reassured him.

Seeming to want to include me in the conversation, Harry turned to me and asked, "What about, you Kiera?"

"What about me?" I asked blankly and quietly. I didn't want to be included at all, but I didn't want to be rude too.

"Did you grow up around wizards or Muggles?" He asked.

"I- I was raised by Muggles, but my uncle's a wizard and he came over all the time. I learned a little bit from him, especially potions, that's all the magic he ever let me do," I rehearsed the story I was told to tell everyone if they asked where I came from. Along with not being able to be seen together in public, I wasn't allowed to tell anyone that I lived with my guardian.

"So your parents aren't magical?" Ron asked, his eyebrows furrowed. I guess he was expecting something else.

"Well, my mum was but my dad's a squib, his brother is my uncle," I explained gently. I knew many in the wizarding world wouldn't take me all that seriously if they found out my dad was a squib, and even more so if they knew my mum was muggle-born.

"Was?" Harry asked with confusion. I'm sure he was thinking that there was some way a witch or wizard could have their magic taken away, but there was none gat I knew off.

"They're dead," I mumbled.

"Oh," both boys said.

"Sorry," Harry muttered to me. I shrugged.

"Yours is too, Harry. Though I did get a bit more time with them. Some of You-Know-Who's supporters came and killed them after he disappeared, I was about five, I think. I just wish that you got to know them a bit," I told him earnestly. It really was sad that he never even knew his parents. I was lucky enough to know who they were and to love them before they were taken from me.

They didn't seem to know what to say to that, so our compartment became quiet. Perhaps I had said too much, but I didn't really care. They're the ones that asked in the first place.

The silence lasted until some time after twelve, when a smiling witch came past our door with a cart full of sweets. "Anything off the cart, dears?" Asked the woman. I never had a particular fondness for sweets, but I guess a few pumpkin pasties didn't sound too horrible right now.

Harry jumped up as Ron's ears turned pink and the red-headed boy mumbled something I didn't quite catch. I stood up as well, but not quite as eagerly as Harry had; I did have some self-restraint. Harry quickly made his way to the hallway and I followed behind him while taking out my small purse.

I was surprised to find that Harry bought a little bit of everything; so much was his load that he almost dropped it as he re-entered the compartment.

I hope he doesn't get sick all over me, I thought darkly, imagining the mess that would be.

"What'll it be for you, dear?" The woman asked kindly.

"Just a pumpkin pasty, thank you," I told her politely, then paid for my treats. I went back into the compartment and saw that Harry had dumped all of his sweets onto the empty chair beside him.

"Hungry, are you?" Ron commented.

"Starving," Harry said while taking a rather indecently large bite out of a pumpkin pasty. Ron took out a lumpy package, which he unwrapped to reveal four sandwiches.

"She always forgets I don't like corn beef," Ron muttered.

"Swap you for one of these." Harry held up a pasty and offered it to Ron. "Go on."

"You don't want this it's all dry," said Ron, "She hasn't got much time, you know with five of us."

"Go on, have a pasty!" Harry encouraged. Finally convinced, Ron dug into the pile of sweets with Harry. I couldn't help but feel a little disgusted as they gobbled down the food, they really didn't have any manners at all. Scooting closer to the wall, I quietly snacked on my pumpkin pasty, looking out the window as the scenery rushed passed. I had never seen much of the country or anything around it; I had barely ever left my village to go to Diagon Alley. The green grass, and the farms, and the hills had an odd beauty to it that I quite enjoyed; I found it peaceful to look out at the beautiful landscape, but I could do without the two boys inhaling their food and chatting between mouthfuls.

Sometime later, when the scenes outside turned into wild landscapes, there was a knock on the door. A round-faced boy that looked close to tears opened our door and looked around our compartment. "Sorry, but have you seen a toad at all?" We all shook our heads. "I lost him, he keeps getting away from me."

"He'll turn up," Harry said, trying to comfort him.

"Yes, well, if you see him." The boy sighed and turned to go.

I didn't know what made me do it, perhaps it was the fact that I too had an amphibian pet or maybe the fact I couldn't stand any more of Harry and Ron's smacking, but I jumped up and quickly called after him, "Wait, I'll help you look for him!"

"You will? Oh, thank you." The boy wiped away his tears, then left our compartment. I gave a short wave to my compartment mates, so as not to be too rude since I had spoken to them, then followed after him.

"I-I'm Neville," the boy said tentatively.

"Kiera. Now, come on, I'm sure we'll find your toad around here somewhere." I gave Neville a tiny smile and set off down the train after the elusive amphibian.