September 1st 1992

The final few weeks of summer 1992 passed uneventfully.

Which is not to say they weren't amazingly fun.

Between playing Quidditch matches and watching Fred and George experiment with fireworks, Alexandra Evans was busy indeed.

On their last evening, Mrs. Weasley conjured up a delicious meal, with everyone's favourite foods making a guest appearance. Including Alexandra's favourite, Sheperd's pie. Fred and George led the entertainment of the evening, setting off magical fireworks they picked up from Diagon alley, surprising Mrs. Weasley as one nearly flew into the roof.

Alex wished summer would never end.

But it was time to return to Hogwarts.

The Burrow was chaotic, with people haphazardly throwing socks in trunks, and crumbs staining the front of their dressing gowns.

outfit of the day:

The nine of them fit comfortably into the battered Ford Anglia, the seats resembling park benches. For some reason, Alex felt that wasn't what a regular muggle car interior looked like, but she wasn't going to tell. They'd have to stop every ten minutes due to everyone forgetting something, first Fred and his broom, to Ginny forgetting her diary.

At this rate they'd never make it to the station. Good thing Mr. Weasley had no regard for muggle speeding laws.

Everyone ran into the station, with five minutes to spare and the Weasleys were all preparing to rush in through the wall.

Why couldn't we just use the wizarding entrance, or side-along apparate? Better than having to sneak in one person at a time.

"I'll take the girls and you two come right after us," Mrs. Weasley told Harry and Ron, grabbing Ginny's hand and setting off. Alex quickly followed through.

She rushed onto the train, finding the last compartment with Hermione sitting, Lavender and Parvati on the other side.

Alex tried to look out of the window but caught no sight of the boys as the train began to roll.

"ALEX!" shrieked Hermione, looking dreadfully bored when Alex found her.

"Hey, 'mione, miss me that much?" Alex laughed.

"Can we go find another compartment? I'm going insane!" she whispered. "I don't think I can take one more minute of Playwitch rankings."

"Isn't our new DADA professor second?" asked Alex, waving her other two dorm mates goodbye as she lugged her trunk over to find Ginny's compartment, hoping the boys would've found her.

"Actually he's first!" corrected Hermione.

Alexandra arched an eyebrow, giggling.

"It's not my fault! Blame those two conversationalists," she hmphed.

"Mmhm," said Alexandra, "This has absolutely nothing to do with the fact you've 'invested' in the bespoke signed copies of his books, and drew hearts around his signature, right?"

"Alexandra!"

"Why is everyone so boy-crazy this year?" muttered Alexandra, rubbing her shoulder that was now stinging. Hermione had a very good punch on her. Must be all those books she carries.

Alex slid open a compartment at the middle of the train, revealing Ginny who was sitting with an eccentric looking blond girl.

"This compartment have space?" she asked, plonking herself down beside Ginny, slinging an arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah, Neville's just gone to find his toad" said Ginny throwing the taller girl's arm off her shoulder.

"Not again," groaned Hermione and Alex together.

"Alexandra Potter?" asked the blonde girl.

"At your service," she winked "Although it's Evans, not Potter."

"What on earth is the Quibbler?" said Hermione, looking over the blonde girl's shoulder at the newspaper she was holding.

"Isn't that Xenophilius Lovegood's newspaper? Bit of a joke if you ask me, Hermione." answered Alex, popping a Bertie Bott's bean in her mouth.

Ginny looked mortified, and Luna started to laugh.

"I'm sorry is something funny?"

"Im Luna Lovegood."

Alexandra blanched.

Mid-way through the train journey, Alexandra went to find the boys, who managed to be very elusive.

Where in Merlin's beard could they be?

She searched the train carefully, stumbling across the Slytherin compartment in the process.

"Hey Evans. what are you doing here?" drawled Pansy Parkinson sitting at the window.

"Nothing important Pans, just looking for someone," she said trying to shut the door hastily. The Slytherins hadn't been as taken with her after she'd been sorted into Gryffindor, they weren't inherently mean but most certainly weren't as awe-struck as before.

"Wait, sit with us," Theo offered before she could shut the door.

"I-er,"

"Yeah Alexandra come on," said Daphne Greengrass, shuffling over.

Alexandra hesitated, but sat down anyways. Draco looked at her, and turned away immediately when she caught him staring.

He's probably still embarrassed about Flourish and Blotts, thought Alex.

"Who thinks Lockhart is going to be a terrible teacher?' asked Daphne.

Everyone raised their hands.

"But Daph, even you have to agree, he's gorgeous." countered Pansy

"Second in Playwitch, oh yes, how awesome..." mocked Blaise.

"Actually he's first, this edition."

All eyes turned towards Alexandra.

"How do you know?" demanded Theodore Nott, leaning over the table. A mischevious smile on his face as he filched a licorice wand from Pansy.

"Perhaps the golden girl isn't so golden after all," chimed in Blaise.

Draco was oddly silent, looking out of the window dramatically. Prat.

"I WOULD NEVER!" she gasped, "Blame my dormmates."

They all nodded and murmured understandingly, Lavender and Parvati were the pillars of Hogwarts' rumour mill. Any and every gossip trail could be traced back to them (which was impressive considering they were only second years).

"Speaking of Gryffindor's, where is Saint Potter?" spat out Draco.

Alexandra smacked her forehead, "Merlin I nearly forgot, I was supposed to be looking for them!"

The Slytherins groaned.

"Trust Saint Potter to miss the train," drawled Pansy.

There were a chorus of laughs.

"Now now, play nice," Alexandra giggled, "He is my brother after all,"

"I don't get how you're related to that dolt." Blaise deadpanned.

"Neither do I, Blaise."

She slipped out of the door, returning to Hermione and the rest.

"I'm so bored." whined Alex, as she tried to shape Hermione's hair into a triangle.

"Perhaps if you read more books, that aren't textbooks," She gave Alex a pointed look."You wouldn't be as whingy." Hermione rolled her eyes as she reached into her satchel pulling out a battered, second-hand copy of 'To kill a Mockingbird.'

"I read plenty," scoffed Alex, looking at the book. "I have my own wall back in my room at the manor."

"Mm."

"A muggle book? Really, Hermione?"

Hermione paid her no attention and since Luna and Ginny were busy talking, she reluctantly opened the book.

'Part one

When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow...'

She snapped the book shut.

"I'm going to go check if the boys have been seen."

By the end of the train ride, Alex had scoured the train thrice, to no avail. Under the compartments, over the trunk ports.

"Where on earth could they be?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine Alex, you know how they are, they'll floo in if something's gone wrong." reassured Hermione.

"Yeah, even Ron's got to have to sense to owl Hogwarts." said Ginny, hand in hand with Luna as they headed towards the boats.

I hope you're right, thought Alex remembering Dobby's eerie warning, for their sakes.

A/N: A nice short chapter!