The Hogwarts Chronicles
I raced towards the Hogwarts Express, cursing the strange coincidence that always made sure I was late to everything in life. Now, I was about to miss the train that would take me to the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I didn't know what would happen in school if I didn't make it, but I knew that my parents would probably ban me from Diagon Alley for the whole next summer! I couldn't afford that.
The train started to move. I quickened my pace and, out of the corner of my eye, noticed a redheaded girl about my age throw open the door of a compartment.
"Come on!" Lily Evans shouted to me. She was always on my case about being late and disorganized. We had grown up together, though she was a Muggle and I was half witch. My Muggle father and Mr. Evans had been best friends all their lives, and when they had gotten married, moved next door to each other. My mother was a witch, but she only donned robes and acted magical when she and I went to Diagon Alley for the summers. I obviously had magic potential, and though my father knew, I had never told Lily. We were both overjoyed when she had been accepted into Hogwarts. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Evans stood with little Petunia, waving frantically at Lily.
I leaped onto the train just as it sped up. Panting, I turned to Lily.
"Thanks, Lil! I owe you my life!"
She frowned at me. "Where were you, anyway?"
"Saying goodbye to my parents. You know that they're going away, too, and we were by their station."
Lily shook her head, but let it go. I finally looked around the compartment.
It was basically filled with loners, apparently. Kids who didn't come with anyone they knew. I noticed one boy absorbed in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One, and a pale, sickly kid going through Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I remembered that when I was younger, my mother used to point out the picture of an Acromantula and tell me all about the big spiders that roamed the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. I felt a ripple of excitement. I was going to be so close to some things which seemed like fantasy! Some other kids in the compartment were a small boy with beady eyes that were constantly scanning the room, taking in everything, and a girl a year or two older than me, who was scribbling something on some parchment at top speed.
Lily and I exchanged glances, than silently decided not to speak to any of the others. Of course, just then, someone sped into our room. He grinned at us.
"Are you guys first years, too? I'm Sirius Black, and I reckon that I've met almost every first year on this train! I've got some big plans for my future, and it's best to know everybody in advance if you want to succeed. Who are all of you?"
The beady-eyed boy looked at Sirius wide-eyed. "Hi," he said in a simpering tone. "I'm Peter Pettigrew. Mind if I join you?"
Sirius wrinkled his nose. "Actually, yes. So far, nobody here really seems to be my type, least of all you."
Peter blushed bright red, and the Fantastic Beasts kid looked up with a reproachful look.
"We're all equal, and there's no reason for you to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. School hasn't even started yet, and you're already going to make enemies."
"And you are..." Sirius looked slightly abashed.
"Remus Lupin." The boy nodded at him, then went back to his book.
"I'm Magda Mardec, and this is Lily Evans," I introduced us. Sirius gave us a brief smile.
The writer identified herself as Brianna Jorkins, a third year at Hogwarts. Sirius hammered her with questions about the school until she finally put up her hands and demanded a break.
We all turned to the last student, the one who was glued to The Standard Book of Spells. He didn't move, or show any sign of hearing any of the conversation. Sirius moved toward him, and I instinctively sensed trouble.
"Hey, you!" Sirius was now standing right in front of the boy. The poor kid looked up. "Yeah, I'm talking to you, nerd-boy!"
"Do you want something?" the kid asked hostilely. I couldn't blame him. Sirius was looming over him, looking like a typical bully. I couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Sirius just wants to know your name," I put in, smiling in a disarming way. He softened for a second, and then glared up at Sirius.
"It's none of your business, but I'm Severus Snape."
"Right then, Snivellus," Sirius snapped. He was annoyed at both Severus and me now, and I could tell that he was the type who was used to getting his way. I didn't care if Remus recommended not making enemies before school even started. I'm the type who won't stand for any bullying, and I knew that Lily felt the same way.
Sirius started to make another nasty comment, but then, someone dashing into our compartment smashed into him, knocking Sirius to the ground. I bit back laughter, and met Brianna's eyes. They were twinkling, and I could see that she enjoyed watching Sirius being taken down a peg or two.
"What is your problem?" said an exasperated Sirius, getting up and trying to loom over the boy who had run into him. It was soon evident, however, that this was impossible. As the boy stood up, I saw that he was about Sirius's height, and in fact, looked remarkably like Sirius. He shot a lopsided smile at the rest of us.
"Sorry 'bout that," he drawled. "I was just trying to get to the front. My buddy Brian is somewhere up there. The name's James Potter. You?"
He nodded to all of us in a distracted sort of way. We all identified ourselves, ignoring Sirius's furious glares at James. The only other one who hadn't spoken was Severus, who was reading his book once more. As James walked toward him, I felt a sense of déjà vu. I was about to intervene, when Sirius spoke.
"That little brat's Snivellus." He gave James a tight, quick smile.
James rounded on Severus. "Snivellus!" Severus ignored him, and James's eyes narrowed. "Hey, Snivellus, I'm talking to you!" He grabbed Severus's shoulder and shook it roughly. Severus pulled away.
"Yeah, Snivellus, don't you know that you've gotta respect your greaters?" This time it was Sirius who had spoken. He pulled out his wand. "This ought to teach you a lesson!"
Automatically, I pulled out my own wand. Whatever Sirius did, I'd be ready for it.
"Tarantallegra!" Sirius shouted. Instantly, Severus's feet started jerking in a crazy dance. I gritted my teeth, and prepared to make some definite enemies. Beside me, Lily took out her wand, ready to stand with me at any cost. She didn't know many spells, but she could be a formidable foe if needed. I opted for a defensive spell, though. I wasn't prepared for a full- scale battle of hexes.
"Finite Incantatem!" I snapped. Severus's feet relaxed, but he didn't. He gave me a withering glare.
"I can fend for myself without your help," he spat, storming out of the room.
Lily glanced at me. "Looks like this'll be an interesting year, Magda. We're not even at school yet, and we've already had a confrontation!"
Remus Lupin looked amused, but I hardly found this funny. If I was going to have to spend the next seven years with Sirius Black, James Potter, and Severus Snape, then Hogwarts wouldn't be all it was cracked up to be...
I raced towards the Hogwarts Express, cursing the strange coincidence that always made sure I was late to everything in life. Now, I was about to miss the train that would take me to the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I didn't know what would happen in school if I didn't make it, but I knew that my parents would probably ban me from Diagon Alley for the whole next summer! I couldn't afford that.
The train started to move. I quickened my pace and, out of the corner of my eye, noticed a redheaded girl about my age throw open the door of a compartment.
"Come on!" Lily Evans shouted to me. She was always on my case about being late and disorganized. We had grown up together, though she was a Muggle and I was half witch. My Muggle father and Mr. Evans had been best friends all their lives, and when they had gotten married, moved next door to each other. My mother was a witch, but she only donned robes and acted magical when she and I went to Diagon Alley for the summers. I obviously had magic potential, and though my father knew, I had never told Lily. We were both overjoyed when she had been accepted into Hogwarts. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Evans stood with little Petunia, waving frantically at Lily.
I leaped onto the train just as it sped up. Panting, I turned to Lily.
"Thanks, Lil! I owe you my life!"
She frowned at me. "Where were you, anyway?"
"Saying goodbye to my parents. You know that they're going away, too, and we were by their station."
Lily shook her head, but let it go. I finally looked around the compartment.
It was basically filled with loners, apparently. Kids who didn't come with anyone they knew. I noticed one boy absorbed in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One, and a pale, sickly kid going through Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I remembered that when I was younger, my mother used to point out the picture of an Acromantula and tell me all about the big spiders that roamed the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. I felt a ripple of excitement. I was going to be so close to some things which seemed like fantasy! Some other kids in the compartment were a small boy with beady eyes that were constantly scanning the room, taking in everything, and a girl a year or two older than me, who was scribbling something on some parchment at top speed.
Lily and I exchanged glances, than silently decided not to speak to any of the others. Of course, just then, someone sped into our room. He grinned at us.
"Are you guys first years, too? I'm Sirius Black, and I reckon that I've met almost every first year on this train! I've got some big plans for my future, and it's best to know everybody in advance if you want to succeed. Who are all of you?"
The beady-eyed boy looked at Sirius wide-eyed. "Hi," he said in a simpering tone. "I'm Peter Pettigrew. Mind if I join you?"
Sirius wrinkled his nose. "Actually, yes. So far, nobody here really seems to be my type, least of all you."
Peter blushed bright red, and the Fantastic Beasts kid looked up with a reproachful look.
"We're all equal, and there's no reason for you to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. School hasn't even started yet, and you're already going to make enemies."
"And you are..." Sirius looked slightly abashed.
"Remus Lupin." The boy nodded at him, then went back to his book.
"I'm Magda Mardec, and this is Lily Evans," I introduced us. Sirius gave us a brief smile.
The writer identified herself as Brianna Jorkins, a third year at Hogwarts. Sirius hammered her with questions about the school until she finally put up her hands and demanded a break.
We all turned to the last student, the one who was glued to The Standard Book of Spells. He didn't move, or show any sign of hearing any of the conversation. Sirius moved toward him, and I instinctively sensed trouble.
"Hey, you!" Sirius was now standing right in front of the boy. The poor kid looked up. "Yeah, I'm talking to you, nerd-boy!"
"Do you want something?" the kid asked hostilely. I couldn't blame him. Sirius was looming over him, looking like a typical bully. I couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Sirius just wants to know your name," I put in, smiling in a disarming way. He softened for a second, and then glared up at Sirius.
"It's none of your business, but I'm Severus Snape."
"Right then, Snivellus," Sirius snapped. He was annoyed at both Severus and me now, and I could tell that he was the type who was used to getting his way. I didn't care if Remus recommended not making enemies before school even started. I'm the type who won't stand for any bullying, and I knew that Lily felt the same way.
Sirius started to make another nasty comment, but then, someone dashing into our compartment smashed into him, knocking Sirius to the ground. I bit back laughter, and met Brianna's eyes. They were twinkling, and I could see that she enjoyed watching Sirius being taken down a peg or two.
"What is your problem?" said an exasperated Sirius, getting up and trying to loom over the boy who had run into him. It was soon evident, however, that this was impossible. As the boy stood up, I saw that he was about Sirius's height, and in fact, looked remarkably like Sirius. He shot a lopsided smile at the rest of us.
"Sorry 'bout that," he drawled. "I was just trying to get to the front. My buddy Brian is somewhere up there. The name's James Potter. You?"
He nodded to all of us in a distracted sort of way. We all identified ourselves, ignoring Sirius's furious glares at James. The only other one who hadn't spoken was Severus, who was reading his book once more. As James walked toward him, I felt a sense of déjà vu. I was about to intervene, when Sirius spoke.
"That little brat's Snivellus." He gave James a tight, quick smile.
James rounded on Severus. "Snivellus!" Severus ignored him, and James's eyes narrowed. "Hey, Snivellus, I'm talking to you!" He grabbed Severus's shoulder and shook it roughly. Severus pulled away.
"Yeah, Snivellus, don't you know that you've gotta respect your greaters?" This time it was Sirius who had spoken. He pulled out his wand. "This ought to teach you a lesson!"
Automatically, I pulled out my own wand. Whatever Sirius did, I'd be ready for it.
"Tarantallegra!" Sirius shouted. Instantly, Severus's feet started jerking in a crazy dance. I gritted my teeth, and prepared to make some definite enemies. Beside me, Lily took out her wand, ready to stand with me at any cost. She didn't know many spells, but she could be a formidable foe if needed. I opted for a defensive spell, though. I wasn't prepared for a full- scale battle of hexes.
"Finite Incantatem!" I snapped. Severus's feet relaxed, but he didn't. He gave me a withering glare.
"I can fend for myself without your help," he spat, storming out of the room.
Lily glanced at me. "Looks like this'll be an interesting year, Magda. We're not even at school yet, and we've already had a confrontation!"
Remus Lupin looked amused, but I hardly found this funny. If I was going to have to spend the next seven years with Sirius Black, James Potter, and Severus Snape, then Hogwarts wouldn't be all it was cracked up to be...
