Chapter Three:
"My child... beware...-" Auntie Lavinia paused a moment, as if thinking of a new thing that Royce should beware before boarding the train for Hogwarts.
'Tea... tea-kettles. Yes, beware tea-kettles. I also see (Auntie Lavinia's beady eyes darted to the horrible handbag that Royce was holding) ... a handbag. You must beware the handbag. Such poor fates. I have not the heart to reveal anymore to you.'
Royce was receiving a few odd looks from fellow classmates, so she decided to get away from Auntie L as quickly as she could and catch up with Francesca on the train. With a ratty floral patterned bag filled with her school supplies in tow, Royce hurriedly boarded the train.
Already on board, Francesca Paolini was sitting inside of a compartment located near the back of the train flipping through a large leather bound book on trolls that grunted when you turned the page. While she was in Diagon Alley, she had bought it at an odd little shop near Nocturne Alley.
Also something (or someone for that matter) that she had found in Diagon Alley was Sirius Black, who at that very moment was making his way towards her compartment.
"Francesca, we meet again, this compartment open?"
"We have an odd habit of doing that, and yes; I'm just saving a seat for Royce."
"Good, then some of my mates can join in if that's ok."
"The more the merrier...and hopefully more people will ward off some of the more annoying faces on the train..." said Francesca as a rather large and bulbous girl came stomping through the aisle.
"We can only hope." Replied Sirius, also noticing the girl, who's name was Gertie Gobstones. A minute or so after Gertie passed, a boy toting a large leather trunk walked down the hallway.
"Oi, Moony, over here!" yelled Sirius to the boy.
The boy toting the trunk happened to be the boy who was in Flourish and Blot's with Sirius. He grinned at Sirius, then with great effort, moved his trunk into the compartment.
"'Lo Sirius, see you've already found some company..." Remus said as he heaved his trunk into the holding bin above the seats.
"Always... oh, Francesca you might know my friend Remus."
Francesca smiled.
"Remus, eh? I did think Moony was a bit of an odd name..."
"Oh, ha, that. It's more of a nickname..."
"I won't ask."
Sirius nodded.
"It's better that you didn't." he said grinning.
The three friends then sat and talked for a few minutes before they were joined by Royce who was heaving her floral bag into the compartment. Francesca pulled out her wand and sent the bag flying into the bin, where it proceeded to rip down the middle. Francesca muttered "reparo", which somewhat fixed the bag.
"Uh, horrible bag, been meaning to get rid of it" Muttered Royce.
"That bag or your aunt?" said Francesca casually.
"Both; too ugly and old to still be around."
"Wow, you must like your aunt as much as I like my family." Laughed Sirius.
After a few minutes of sitting, the group was joined by James who entered into the conversation.
"Ha, you can't do that much with Fillibusters!" scoffed James
"You obviously didn't see what happened to the third wing last year, did you then?" replied Francesca
"I did, but it wasn't as bad as you say!"
Just as Francesca was about to reply, the compartment busted open. Standing in the doorway was a very red faced Gertie and panting Peter.
"Oh, er, hello Peter." Said Remus, trying to be as casual as he could with a medium sized troll such as Gertie looming over him.
"Hullo Remus, Sirius, James! How- how are you all?" stammered Peter as he sat down in the last open seat in the compartment.
"HEY! Where am I supposed to sit?!" said Gertie very loudly and obnoxiously.
"Well, suppose you'll have to find another compartment..." said Royce, hoping to get rid of her.
"But who am I supposed to sit with?! I want to sit here!"
"Gertie, there aren't any more seats..."
Peter practically leapt from his seat.
"Oh, ta-take mine."
James rolled his eyes.
"Are you thick? Where are you going to sit then?"
Gertie didn't wait for Peter to reply and fit her large frame next to James.
"I'll sit on the floor, I don't mind" Peter said lovingly as he looked up at Gertie.
Everyone in the compartment (save Peter and Gertie) exchanged looks of sheer and utter revulsion as the train sped off to Hogwarts. They were in for a very long ride.
"My child... beware...-" Auntie Lavinia paused a moment, as if thinking of a new thing that Royce should beware before boarding the train for Hogwarts.
'Tea... tea-kettles. Yes, beware tea-kettles. I also see (Auntie Lavinia's beady eyes darted to the horrible handbag that Royce was holding) ... a handbag. You must beware the handbag. Such poor fates. I have not the heart to reveal anymore to you.'
Royce was receiving a few odd looks from fellow classmates, so she decided to get away from Auntie L as quickly as she could and catch up with Francesca on the train. With a ratty floral patterned bag filled with her school supplies in tow, Royce hurriedly boarded the train.
Already on board, Francesca Paolini was sitting inside of a compartment located near the back of the train flipping through a large leather bound book on trolls that grunted when you turned the page. While she was in Diagon Alley, she had bought it at an odd little shop near Nocturne Alley.
Also something (or someone for that matter) that she had found in Diagon Alley was Sirius Black, who at that very moment was making his way towards her compartment.
"Francesca, we meet again, this compartment open?"
"We have an odd habit of doing that, and yes; I'm just saving a seat for Royce."
"Good, then some of my mates can join in if that's ok."
"The more the merrier...and hopefully more people will ward off some of the more annoying faces on the train..." said Francesca as a rather large and bulbous girl came stomping through the aisle.
"We can only hope." Replied Sirius, also noticing the girl, who's name was Gertie Gobstones. A minute or so after Gertie passed, a boy toting a large leather trunk walked down the hallway.
"Oi, Moony, over here!" yelled Sirius to the boy.
The boy toting the trunk happened to be the boy who was in Flourish and Blot's with Sirius. He grinned at Sirius, then with great effort, moved his trunk into the compartment.
"'Lo Sirius, see you've already found some company..." Remus said as he heaved his trunk into the holding bin above the seats.
"Always... oh, Francesca you might know my friend Remus."
Francesca smiled.
"Remus, eh? I did think Moony was a bit of an odd name..."
"Oh, ha, that. It's more of a nickname..."
"I won't ask."
Sirius nodded.
"It's better that you didn't." he said grinning.
The three friends then sat and talked for a few minutes before they were joined by Royce who was heaving her floral bag into the compartment. Francesca pulled out her wand and sent the bag flying into the bin, where it proceeded to rip down the middle. Francesca muttered "reparo", which somewhat fixed the bag.
"Uh, horrible bag, been meaning to get rid of it" Muttered Royce.
"That bag or your aunt?" said Francesca casually.
"Both; too ugly and old to still be around."
"Wow, you must like your aunt as much as I like my family." Laughed Sirius.
After a few minutes of sitting, the group was joined by James who entered into the conversation.
"Ha, you can't do that much with Fillibusters!" scoffed James
"You obviously didn't see what happened to the third wing last year, did you then?" replied Francesca
"I did, but it wasn't as bad as you say!"
Just as Francesca was about to reply, the compartment busted open. Standing in the doorway was a very red faced Gertie and panting Peter.
"Oh, er, hello Peter." Said Remus, trying to be as casual as he could with a medium sized troll such as Gertie looming over him.
"Hullo Remus, Sirius, James! How- how are you all?" stammered Peter as he sat down in the last open seat in the compartment.
"HEY! Where am I supposed to sit?!" said Gertie very loudly and obnoxiously.
"Well, suppose you'll have to find another compartment..." said Royce, hoping to get rid of her.
"But who am I supposed to sit with?! I want to sit here!"
"Gertie, there aren't any more seats..."
Peter practically leapt from his seat.
"Oh, ta-take mine."
James rolled his eyes.
"Are you thick? Where are you going to sit then?"
Gertie didn't wait for Peter to reply and fit her large frame next to James.
"I'll sit on the floor, I don't mind" Peter said lovingly as he looked up at Gertie.
Everyone in the compartment (save Peter and Gertie) exchanged looks of sheer and utter revulsion as the train sped off to Hogwarts. They were in for a very long ride.