Chapter 3
September 1st, 2000
Eliza POV
I could barely remember the taxi ride to the train station, Uncle Remus beside me, white knuckling the container that held my new owl, Janet. Uncle Bobby had let us watch Rocky Horror Picture Show a few years back, and since then, Dean and I couldn't stop singing, "Damnit, Janet" at each other. Even Sammy saying damn it under his breath would lead to us breaking into song, annoying the crap out of Sam each and every time.
It had taken about a day for them to get over the fact that I was a witch, going to witch school for the better part of the year, especially since the only witches they had known about were the ones who made deals with demons and, usually, got murked by hunters like my Uncle John. Even though they had apparently known it was a possibility that I would end up being a witch on account of my mom being one, it's quite another thing to see your baby cousin be approached by an owl holding a letter that would confirm it.
Uncle John and Uncle Bobby had always known that I was probably going to be a witch, but I guess Dean and Sam never really considered it seriously. Sammy had read all of my school books, twice, after I came back from school shopping with Uncle Rem and Uncle Bobby. Dean sat with me that night, and made me promise to send him letters, quote 'even if it means sending your freaky ass bird after us'. Uncle John and Uncle Bobby hugged me real tight before I left, but didn't say much other than the typical 'don't get in trouble, and if you do, don't get caught'.
They had all wanted to be here to head me off, but given that they were muggle, Uncle Remus and Uncle Sev had said that perhaps it would be best if only Uncle Rem took me, if only to avoid drawing attention to myself.
Watching him from the window of the train, I wished the rest of my family was there, if only to hug Uncle Rem. His sad eyes watched me as we pulled away from the station, and I barely managed to muster a smile as I waved him goodbye, his figure growing smaller and smaller as we rushed away.
I sighed, already exhausted at the thought of school and being away from my family for so long.
At least there's Christmas. I thought to myself.
The door to my cabin burst open, and two identical red heads tumbled in, followed by another boy with darker hair and skin, the door slamming shut again behind them. One of the red heads gaped up at me and I stared right back in confusion.
"If anyone asks, we've been here the whole time." He gasped, throwing himself onto the seat next to me and picking up the book I had out. The two other boys did the same in the seats opposite us.
"Wha-" I started, before the door opened once again, this time by a much older student in black robes and a green tie. A green pin that said 'Prefect' sat neatly on his chest. He glared at the boys.
"Weasleys! Jordan! I know what you did, you bloody wankers!" he growled.
"What?" The boy next to me, a Weasley (?) I suppose, exclaimed in outrage. "I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about dear man! My brother and I, and our dashing acquaintance, have been here since the train left the station!"
"Yes," Jordan, (I think?), continued, "We've been helping this firstie organize her books, can't get those messed up you know!"
"You liars! I know you set off a dung bomb in a cabin filled with 7th year Slytherins, they saw you!" The older boy hissed. It was then that I noticed the awful smell coming off him, my nose wrinkling in disgust.
The other Weasley gasped in mock horror. "That is categorically untrue dear Christian! We've been here the whole time, just ask her!"
Four sets of eyes set on me, three hopeful and one expectance. I sighed lowly under my breath, and then turned my most innocent eyes on the prefect.
"They really have been helping me out with my books. Some of the words y'all use here are different from the ones I use back home, they were translating a bit as well." I simpered out in an exaggerated Southern accent, smiling crookedly.
A moment of silenced passed, the four looking at me in surprise. I blinked up at the older student.
"Is there something else I can help clear up for you? I'd really like to get back to my books." I said. A sneer came over his face.
"I should have guessed you would be a mud- muggleborn, what with the company you keep." He spit, finally leaving the cabin with a scoff.
I frowned. " What's up his butt?" I asked the trio, switching back to my normal accent and noticing their surprised looks.
"You didn't give us up." The one to the right of me said.
"And you're American?" the other red head asked in confusion.
"What gives?" The dark haired boy finished for them.
Blinking from the bombardment of questions, I turned what Dean calls my 'bitchiest' smile on the trio.
"Hi, nice to meet you too. My name is Eliza, what's yours? Or would you prefer to continue this interrogation without names?"
They flushed in embarrassment, before the darker skinned boy reached his hand out. "Lee Jordan, best friend to these two idiots." He smiled, ignoring the sounds of outrage from the red heads as he shook my hand. The one next to him pushed him out of the way, grabbing my hand in his and shaking enthusiastically.
"George Weasley, the far more handsome twin, which dear old Forge beside you is still recovering from- oi!" he yelled as the boy beside me kicked him in the shin, causing him to hiss in pain. He smiled at me and took my hand in a much gentler grip.
"Ignore that idiot, mum dropped him on his head when he was a baby,-" "Only because you bloody tripped her you dolt!" "- I'm Fred Weasley. Pleasure to meet you my lady." He said, dipping into a mock bow.
Letting a snicker escape, I mock curtsied back at him, grinning at the amused glint in his eyes. "Delighted I'm sure, and to answer your question, yes, I am American, but my dad was English."
"Wizard?" Lee asked, before flushing more. "Not that it matters-"
"I don't know." I muttered, ducking my head. "Never met the guy. Could be dead for all I know."
Fred leaned over to smack his friend. "Look what you've done now! You've made the American sad, she'll never bloody want to be friends with us now!" he exclaimed furiously, batting at Lee's head more as he tried to duck away. I grinned again.
"It's fine." I said. "I've met far more idiotic people with far less social grace. Explain what a 'dungbomb' is, and how you got one into a cabin of upperclassmen, and all is forgiven."
George smirked, and launched into a tale of their exploits, the countryside rushing by as we fell into a comfortable conversation. Briefly, my mind wandered to home, but with the people beside me, and the magical future in front of me, the thought fell away after a moment, and I began arguing in earnest over the potential uses of a dungbomb.
Several hours later I was not feeling as at home. After bidding my new friends goodbye, and taking a rather nausea inducing boat ride with the other first years, I found myself waiting alongside my fellow classmates to be sorted. Into houses. By a talking hat. Ridiculous, if I do say so myself, but I suppose I'm not the headmaster, so my opinion doesn't really matter.
I stretched my gaze up past the girl getting sorted, my eyes landing on my Uncle Sev. His dark eyes gleamed back, and a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. We had had a long talk before I left for school, and, though he loved me, he made it clear that it was safer for me if no one knew that he was my uncle, and weirdly enough, I understood. A strange feeling had overcome me, and I just knew that I needed to keep quiet about our familial relation. Despite this, he insisted that I come have tea with him every Sunday evening since there was 'no longer an entire god forsaken ocean between my niece and I'.
"Eliza Winchester." Professor McGonagall, the woman who had come to take me to Diagon Alley a few months ago and spent the afternoon answering my Uncle Bobby's questions and gazing at me sadly, called out. Her icy blue eyes followed me as I walked up to the stool, and as I sat and brought the hat down over my head, I met her eyes briefly, watching her catalogue me in her mind once again.
"Ah, the Winchester girl. I've been expecting you." The hat said into my head.
"Fucking hell." I muttered under my breath, a muffled snort coming from where my Uncle sat behind me.
"Lovely." It drawled sarcastically. "Now, where to put you. Slytherin is a family favorite…then again your parents were Gryffindor, and you would do so nicely there…."
"My dad was a wizard? No, never mind, I don't want to know." I mumbled distractedly. "Just put me in a house, will you? No offence, but I've had nicer smelling hats that are far less rude on my head."
"Impatient, aren't we? It had better be… GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled into the hall, prompting the table with students in red and gold to cheer. Giving the rotten hat to Professor McGonagall, I hurried over to where I could see Fred, George, and Lee cheering loudly. Throwing myself onto the bench next to Fred, I grinned wildly at the trio.
"Miss me boys?" I asked, the three grinning back at me. Fred laughed outright.
"Just excited that we have a new partner in crime. Welcome to Gryffindor 'Liza." He said, bumping my shoulder with his.
George leaned in, his grin turning far more malicious. "Prepare for the time of your life 'Liza, we have a busy year of pranks ahead of us."
I smirked back at him. "Ready if you are Georgie."
