The station at platform 9 ¾ was packed with students and their families. Severus sneered at the way other parents doted on their children. He hated to be babied and treated as if he were incompetent. His own parents did not accompany him to the train. Keely was there carrying Severus' trunk and a carrier with Mars in it.
Severus boarded the train and looked for an empty compartment. Many were full already, and the ones that weren't contained students that either stared at him in fear or blatant dislike. He didn't care though. He enjoyed the peace of solitude. Severus finally reached an empty compartment near the back and sat down. He let Mars out of the carrier and opened his book on advanced potions. Keely stowed his trunk and then left the train, desperately trying to dodge the hundreds of other people milling about. Within two minutes Severus was interrupted by a loud voice he knew too well, and he cringed as it approached.
"Over here mates! I think this one is still open." A tall boy with glasses and unruly brown hair popped his head in. "Well, well, if it isn't Slimy Severus? No need to worry. There's no way we would want to sit with you all the way to Hogwarts." The other three boys had looked in the compartment and laughed with their friend. "Get out, Potter!" Hissed Severus. "C'mon, lets keep going guys." Said the chubbier boy in the back. "Not afraid of him, are ya Pete?" Joked another, as he prodded him in the ribs. The boy puffed up indignantly, "Of course not, Sirius!" With that, they set off towards the back of the train, throwing Severus some nasty looks on their way out.
Finally. Thought Severus, as the train whistle blew. The train began moving forward and he opened his book again. Mars was sleeping on the seat next to him. He was too involved in his nap to care about the other boys coming in earlier. However, as soon as Severus started reading he was interrupted by a knock on the door. He was startled to see an unfamiliar girl look in. "Would you mind if I joined you? There aren't any other open seats on the train." Hmmph. I'm the last resort, eh? He thought. "If you must." He said curtly and went back to his reading.
She closed the compartment door behind her and sat in the seat opposite his, looking out the window. Severus couldn't help stealing glances at her. He didn't recognize her as a Hogwarts student, but she looked like she was the same age as him…not nearly old enough to be a professor. She was only about 5'2" and petite, but carried herself with an air of dignity. Or was it ego? Her hair was so black that it reminded him of his mother, but hers was cut in a short bob and neatly parted at the side. Her robes were a deep purple color and a crest of a silver phoenix was embroidered on the front.
She seemed to have caught on to his stares, so she looked right at him. Her dark brown eyes focused intently on his and then she…smiled. "My name is Bhamini Stone. I'm a new transfer student here to Howarts. What's your name?" She held out her hand. Severus, suddenly aware that he had to speak, opened his mouth, but only a whisper came out. "Excuse me? Her smiled widened. Severus cleared his throat and extended his hand. "Severus…Severus Snape." He suddenly pulled back his hand, aware that it was sweaty.
"It's nice to meet you, Severus." She paused. Something in her eyes turned cold for a second. Ha! Unlikely. He thought to himself. "To tell you the truth," she continued, "I didn't want to come to Hogwarts this year and the move disrupted my studying for the N.E.W.T.S. I don't expect I'll meet many people I like anyway."
"I wont be able to help you with that." Snapped Severus. Immediately regretting his tone, he added, "You see, my parents pressure me to excel in my schoolwork." He gestured to his book. "I don't often socialize with the other students." He didn't want to mention that it was more like they didn't want to socialize with him. "I know what you mean." To his surprise she pulled out the very same book he was reading. "I'm not very good at potions, so I've been trying to read up on them over the summer."
Severus didn't feel like keeping up the conversation, so he went back to his reading. It wasn't a very thorough reading, since the new company distracted him. Furrowing his brow, he tried harder to concentrate on his book.
When the lunch trolley came around, he knew he would have to talk to her again. As they began to eat he said, "So…where is it that you come from? Why are you transferring to Hogwarts?" "Oh, I went to the Manchester Women's Academy up north." The way she said it made it her sound extremely snobbish. Then her voice wavered, "but when my Dad died, Mum brought me to London so we could be with the rest of the family." "I'm sorry about your loss." Offered Severus, not really sure of what else to say.
Bhamini straightened up and smiled at him again. "I'll be alright. It's better that I'm away from Manchester anyway…" Her smile faltered and she didn't seem to want to continue the discussion. By this point, Mars smelled the food and managed to wake himself. Noticing the new company, he looked at Severus and back at the girl. He jumped down from the seat and sniffed her robes in investigation. "Mars, stop that. Get back here." Severus exclaimed. "I'm sorry about him." "No need to worry. You have a beautiful cat." Mars puffed out his chest and stuck his nose up at Severus upon hearing this, then jumped onto the seat next to Bhamini.
After lunch, Severus gratefully retreated back to his book for the remainder of the trip. Bhamini had fallen asleep with Mars on her lap.