...

a good friend is hard to find.

She was a strange sight. She caught the eyes of many, with her boyish looks, neon green hair, and rebellious pixie cut. Not to mention she was young, tall for her age, standing at around 5 feet, but undeniably young. No older than eleven years old. She carried a bag on her back that seemed almost larger than her, and a small black cat was perched upon her head, blinking its green eyes lazily.

A thoughtful look appeared on her face, as she looked down at the ticket she held in her hand. Nine and three quarters, she mouthed, as she thought back to a time when she excitedly thought about this day, how she'd hug her parents' goodbye, they would be proud. Her father would miss her, but smile. Her mother would make sure she'd be prepared for the real world, giving her a rare hug. She was younger then.

She notices a quite pretty, though a little chubby, girl around her age. She had gorgeous chocolate skin and wavy dark brown hair that fell to the middle of her back. Large glasses framed her eyes—and oh, her eyes. They were a beautiful green that seemed to sparkle. She was clutching a fat white cat in her arms. The short, bespectacled girl seemed quite unsure of herself—obviously lost.

The bright-haired girl wondered if she was perhaps a witch, judging from the way she was wandering around aimlessly, staring at her ticket.

One way to find out.

"Hey, you look a bit lost. I'm Stef, you need some help?" Stef says, tapping the shorter girl on the shoulder.

The girl jumped slightly and whipped around to face Stef, eyes wide. She exhaled and seemed to relax slightly. "Ah, y-you startled me... Um, it's nice to—it's nice to meet you." The girl smiled gently, holding her hand out for Stef to shake. "I'm...I'm Brianna."

Stef gripped her hand and shook it firmly. She grinned at the timid girl. "Nice name! I'm here to go to a boarding school," explains Stef, hoping that if Brianna's a witch, she'll catch on.

Luckily, she did. "Oh, uh, me... me too. The school I'm going to is very reclusive."

"Mine too. It has a pretty funky name. It's called Hogwarts."

Brianna brightened considerably. "Oh, thank goodness." The girl sighs. "I'm so lost. How do you get to the platform?" she questions. "I-I'm new to this..."

"Yeah, muggleborn. I thought so." The taller girl grins. "If I'm remembering correctly..." Stef clasps Brianna's wrist, leading her to a pillar. "You walk through the wall."

Brianna seemed to choke. "Through—Through the wall?!" She sputtered incredulously. "W-Well, I suppose that's magic for you..." she mutters.

"If it makes you feel better...I could hold your hand and we could go together," Stef suggests helpfully.

Brianna blushes. "You... Y-Yes please..." she murmurs.

Stef smiles at her, before pausing. "Wait, give me a moment," she says as she carefully takes the kitty perched on her head and places it inside its carrier. It mewls indignantly but doesn't put up a fight.

Brianna smiles gently. "...how cute..."

Stef holds out her hand to Brianna. "Are you ready?"

Brianna shifts her cat into one arm and simply clasps Stef's hand in response.


"To live will be an awfully big adventure."

PETER PAN


"Caleb, don't forget to be on time for class. Professor McGonagall is very strict. Oh, and remember to let your owl out once in a while. Write to me every month—no, every week, more often if possible—"

"Mum, you don't have to worry about me!" Caleb smiled excitedly at his mother, who mirrored his expression, though with a tinge of nervousness. "I'll write to you every week, at least, I promise."

"Oh, I can't believe that my little boy is going off to Hogwarts," his mother says wistfully. "I'll miss you so, so much," she tells him.

"I'll miss you too, mum," Caleb responds, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I love you."

"I love you too, my little Puffskein," she replies. "I love you more than you know." She pulls away, giving him a proud smile. "It's time we part. I don't want to keep you."

Caleb grins brightly, slowly backing up. "Bye, mum."

The beautiful witch gives him a small wave before disapparating with a crack!

Caleb turns away, picking up his owl's cage, and clutching his case in a stronger grip. He swept his shaggy hair out of his eyes. He set his sights on a blond boy, determined to make at least one friend. He reaches out to tap the boy's shoulder, before someone's hand snaps out and grabs his wrist, pulling him away.

He hears a rough, quiet voice. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. isn't pleasant company."

Caleb looks down to see a short feminine boy, around his age, with black hair that was cut short everywhere, except the bangs, which were almost getting in his eyes. His eyes were a steely blue, seeming to glare up at him despite his impassive expression.

The boy lets go of Caleb, before clearing his throat. "I apologize. My name is—" the boy seemed to hesitate. "—London."

Caleb narrows his eyes slightly at the odd pause, but lets it go. "Uh, apology accepted, I guess. I'm Caleb." Caleb stops for a moment. "Wait, did you say Malfoy—?"

"You're catching on," London says, seeming faintly amused, though his facial expression barely changed. "Yes, Draco Malfoy. Lucius's son. A daddy's boy. And, most importantly, a blood purist."

"Ah...thank you..." Caleb mutters. "That would've been disastrous."

London raises his eyebrows. "Well said. Would you like to get on the train, or shall we stand here all day?"

Caleb grinned.

"Holy shit!"

CRASH!

A girl with bright green hair fell into Caleb, effectively toppling them both over. London would've met the same fate, if he hadn't followed his instincts and stepped backwards.

Behind them was another girl, one arm holding a concerningly largecat, and the other up to her mouth in shock. London quirked a brow.

"Ugh. Sorry 'bout that." The tall girl got up and offers Caleb a hand. "Lost my balance."

Caleb takes her hand and she hauls him up. "Uh... I accept your apology. I'm Caleb. Who're you?"

"Stef. That girl back there's Brianna." Stef gestures to the other girl, who waves timidly.

"Hi..." Brianna smiles shakily.

They all look at London, who just crosses his arms and raises his eyebrows like 'bitch, no' and Caleb coughs awkwardly.

"...uh, that's London," Caleb says after a moment.

London seemed to analyze them before seemingly coming to a decision. "I see. We should board while we're early. I'd rather have a choice of our compartment."

There was a momentary silence before the group simultaneously broke into a grin. Our.


"Live each day as if it's your last"

UNKNOWN


Once they'd gotten settled—London crossing his legs elegantly and begins reading a tome, Brianna curling up with a notebook, Caleb gracelessly flopping onto a chair and chowing down on some sweets, Steph tapping her fingers on her leg boredly.

London observes the others quietly. As they sat together, he could see the caution in everyone's eyes.

He knew they'd all seen pain. They'd been hurt.

That's the only reason he'd stick around for thisparticular train-wreck.

"Well. This is awkward," Steph states into the silence.

"Yep," Caleb agrees as he shoves a pumpkin pasty in his mouth.

"So..." Brianna starts quietly. "What do y-you guys want to t-talk about?"

"Dunno."

Suddenly, someone opens the door. A boy with slicked-back pale blonde hair pokes his head in. Caleb immediately rolls his eyes. Draco Malfoy, of course.

"Klement," Draco says, addressing London. He casts a disdainful look towards the others. "Are you sure you want to surround yourself with...thesepeople? You know, good friends are hard to find, and I could easily introduce you to some people, better than these blood traitors and filthy mudbloo—"

Stef growls, jolting up. "Why you—"

"I'd like to stop you right there, Mr. Malfoy," London interjects, idly turning a page. "You needn't use slurs to prove your idiotic and virtually nonexistent point. Unless you intend to improve the silence, please—ah, what's the word again. Oh right!" He pauses, pinning the blond with a judgemental look. "Shut up."

Draco was speechless. He'd assumed that London was like him.

He was wrong.

London isn't like anyone.

"It seems like nobody here appreciates your presence. Please, go see the poor sods who had to sit around you before," London hums noncommittally.

Draco glares at him, before turning on his heel and leaving, making sure to slam the door behind him.

"Why is he so pissy..?" London murmurs boredly. "How rude." He flips a page.

"Good job, but I could've handled him, you know," Stef grumbles, as she replaces herself onto her seat.

London raises a brow as he closes his book. "I'm sure you could've." He places the book on his lap. "Quite explosively, in fact."

"You sure told him off," states Caleb, plopping a chocolate frog into his mouth. If he'd said another word, I'd have socked him in the face." He holds up the collectible card that came with the chocolate frog. "Check it, I got Circe."

"Th-Thank you for making him go away..." Brianna looks down. "I was wo-worried about what he might've done..."

"Merlin, you're a muggleborn, aren't you!" Caleb exclaims. "Shite, now I really wish I had the guts to hit the damned brat back then!"

"Right, you're a muggleborn," Stef recalls. "What's it like growing up without magic? Or finding out about it?"

Brianna blinks. "W-Well, finding out wasn't very shocking to anyone of us, really. I-I think my family sort of saw it coming, with all the strange things I'd managed to do."

"Strange things? What kind of strange things?"

"Err... W-Well, I sort of turned my dog pink... a-and made candy fall from the ceiling..."

"Conjuration? The most I've really done with my accidental magic is set my f-f-father's hat on fire."

Caleb smiles in amusement at their avid conversation. "They're getting on nicely," he comments to London.

London crosses his arms. "Yes. Quite surprising, isn't it? With their personalities, you'd think they'd clash."

"Mhm, yes, but enough about them," Caleb leans forward, licking some chocolate from his fingers. "Let's talk about you."

"Oh? And what of me?" The blue-eyed boy asks, vaguely interested.

"Yes, you are quite strange, aren't you? I don't know much of you. From the way Malfoy was acting earlier, you're a pureblood, and yetI've never heard of you."

"I'm sure you've heard of me...just not in the way you think," London states cryptically.

Caleb smirks, clasping his hands together. "Really... But when I met you, there was something really just offabout you. Tell me..." Caleb leans forward, getting into London's space, his voice becoming quiet, a faint whisper. "...Is London even your real name?"

London suddenly leans away, facial expression and body language becoming closed off. His eyes narrowed and became cold.

Caleb pulls away, sighing and relaxing. "I know you're hiding something, but... Well, quite honestly, I don't care. You have a right to your privacy, as long as you don't end up hurting someone." He waves his hand dismissively. "You're your own person. I don't really give a crap, just don't be stupid. I won't pry."

The dark haired boy blinks, somewhat surprised. "...Really? I was...not expecting that." He pauses, looking away. "...Thank you."

Caleb grins.

Stef suddenly claps her hands together. "So! Question of the day! Which houses do you guys want to be in?"

Brianna frowns, confused. "Um...What are the houses?"

"Well, there's Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Caleb lists.

"Yeah!" Stef nods. "Gryffindor is for the brave, Ravenclaw for the smart, Hufflepuff for hardworking and loyal, Slytherin for cunning," she explains. "But don't get anything wrong, Gryffindors are impulsive idiots, Ravenclaws are dicks—excuse my french— and Slytherins are all pretty much dark wizards."

"Dark wizards?" Brianna questions.

"Yeah. Bad guys."

"Excuse me, but you are being very stereotypical," interrupts London. "Gryffindors are brave, yes, but that doesn't mean they're all stupid. There has to be some people who embody the stereotype for the stereotype to exist, but you are brashly labelling people, and all people are different.

"Ravenclaws aren't mean, they can be very kind, even funny. They aren't nerds or arrogant, they are curious and they simply value learning above all else. I, personally, think I might end up in Ravenclaw

"Hufflepuffs also have a stereotype; that they're pushovers or leftovers, but that's not true. They are kind and value loyalty and hardwork above all. I wish that I could become a Hufflepuff.

"And finally, Slytherins aren't bad. It means they are resourceful, and able to survive, and are ambitious and strive for great things. Every house is good in different ways. There is no bad house, nor is there a best house."

"Well, we just got educated," Caleb mutters.

"You're very insightful, London," compliments Brianna.

Stef yawns. "I'm gonna take a nap now, y'all. Wake me up a bit before we get there so I can change."

London watches as the group quiets, as Brianna withdraws, scribbling in her notebook. As Stef slips off to sleep. As Caleb looks out the window, daydreaming.

They were back to the silence as it had been when they first sat down. Except, it was different. This wasn't the awkward silence as it had been before—no, this time, it was comfortable. They weren't together as four individuals. They were together as a single group.

.

.

.

.

I swear—this guy is hiding something! Now, I'm going to figure out whatever the hell his secrets, with or without you, before someone gets hurt!

Fun fact:

London is an Asian with blue eyes.