Chapter 1: Train Ride
There are three things that I learned since getting on the train this fine, gloomy morning. First, getting on the train each September is probably one of the most exciting days of the year, besides my birthday and the first Quidditch match of course.
Each compartment was full of joy and happiness as returning students talked about their summers with old mates, whereas the first years were anxiously meeting new friends and starting their magical journeys. Personally, I thought my compartment was the best one on the train. As per usual, we had Angelina Johnson, my beautiful, tall, and studious friend, who also happened to be my new Quidditch captain. Next to her, we had probably the most gorgeous and honest girl in school, the wonderful Alicia Spinnet. And, finally, we had my feistiest and best friend, Katie Bell. The four of us made up the Gryffindor Quidditch girls, ruling the school from our Nimbus 2000s.
Technically, Katie has been a Chaser for the team longer than me, starting in her second year. But when I tried out for the reserve Chaser position in my fourth year, I outscored Katie at my tryouts and Wood had me replace her, making her the team reserve instead. The rest of the team really didn't talk to me for at least two months, which I completely understood. After all, we Gryffindors are fiercely loyal. Although, when they found out I usually ended up in the Hospital Wing within the first half hour of the match and Katie almost always got to play, all was well in the Gryffindor Tower.
"My favorite girls!" I jumped at the two thunderous voices, smiling when I saw the boys attached to them.
Adding to our Quidditch compartment, Fred and George Weasley, our wonderful Beaters, worked their way in. Excuse my language, but damn they got fit this summer. The two seemed to have grown a few inches and toned out. Their hair had grown out during the break, becoming wonderfully wispy in a perfect way. From the other side of the compartment, Alicia bit her lip and wiggled her eyebrows at me in the most mischievous manner as the boys made their way around the compartment, saying their hellos to each girl.
This brings me to the next thing I've learned since boarding the train. Secondly, I've completely missed the presence of gorgeous men this summer. It's been far too long.
"Cassie," the twins said with a large smile, reaching me last out of the girls. They threw their arms around me in a sandwich style hug, burying my face in their chests. As the twins grew like beanstalks this summer, my sister and I seemed to be stuck at a whooping 5'2", meaning that the entire Quidditch team basically towered over me – or anyone fourth year and up for that matter.
The six of us, seven when Lee Jordan joined later on, smushed ourselves into the too small compartment and talked about our summers as the boys played Exploding Snaps. Katie and I were looking over a Witches Weekly magazine, when we heard the compartment door slide open.
All of our heads turned towards the two Slytherin standing in the door, Prefect badges shining brightly on their chests.
"You're being loud, we were told to have you quiet down," the boy, Adrian Pucey, said blandly, obviously telling us out of pure obligation. Pucey was a Chaser on the Slytherin team and, as much as I hated them all, he always played a fair game and was relatively civil towards us.
"Try to keep your mouth shut for once, will ya?" The Slytherin girl, Cressida, smirked with a small eyebrow raise.
"Oh, shut up, ya bint," I sighed, throwing a Chocolate Frog at her head, "I stopped listening to you when we were six."
"You won't be as cocky when Slytherin wins the Quidditch Cup this year," she smirked confidently, "and I get better marks than you."
Cressida and Adrian slid the compartment door shut without another word and continued on their rounds. She really should know that threatening me with good marks isn't the way to get me riled up.
"Nice to see you too, Essie!" The twins yelled mockingly after the girl, who was already way too far away to hear it.
"I reckon the two of you look more similar every year," Lee sighed, "You two are more identical than these tomato heads." He gestured loosely to Fred and George.
Cressida, Essie for short, was my older sister by ten minutes, my twin and mommy and daddy's favorite. We may look alike, but everything about us – to our cores – were different. She was a Slytherin Prefect, probably going to be Head Girl and Quidditch Captain, perfect marks, good at Potions type of girl. I was more… well, let's just say I wasn't in line to be Head Girl anytime soon.
We may be different in most ways, but there is one thing we both share – we are both extremely competitive, which brings me to number three on my list.
So, third and last – we are going to smother the Slytherins in our first match this year.
The Sorting Ceremony went as usual, as boring as Professor Binns. Although the Hat made some weird premonitions about the Houses having to stick together – fat chance on getting Slytherin to join hands and sing Kumbaya with us.
Dumbledore's speech continued as usual, stay out of the forest, Mr. Filch says don't go into the hallway, blah blah blah. It wasn't until a small "hem, hem" echoed through the hall, cutting off Dumbledore.
All the students look bewildered at this, nobody has ever interrupted Dumbledore before. Even the professors looked taken aback, but he just took a seat and gestured to the grotesque women to speak.
Not much taller standing than sitting, a horrid woman in all pink made her way up to the podium. She was earlier introduced, but her name didn't seem to stick in my head. Once again, she cleared her throat and the muttering in the hall silenced.
"It is quite lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I might say!" She said in a high-pitched, girly voice that made me want to rip out my eardrums. Next to me, Fred nudged me and pretended to vomit. "I am looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll all be great friends!"
I rolled my eyes turning my attention away from her and looking down at my class schedule instead. I got seven OWLs last year, much better than I thought I would do. Expectedly, I failed History of Magic and Potions – probably because you had to show up to pass. Sorry, not sorry, but Snape was mean. I don't need those negative vibrations in my life. Although, my parents were much happier with Essie's nine OWLs.
I spent my time looking over Fred and Katie's schedules, simply because they were easily accessible from my seat. It wasn't until everyone started getting up and talking again before I realized I missed the rest of the putrid pink woman's and Dumbledore's speeches.
The group of us slowly staggered our way back to the Gryffindor common room, not at all excited for the end of our first day. The whole way up, the twins handed out flyers to anyone we passed and yelling, "Need some pocket money? Come try our products!"
"I reckon that woman is going to expel you both by the time we make it to our first match," Katie said once they boys had handed out their ninth flyer.
"Don't jinx it, Kat!" Angelina snapped, obviously more worried about her Quidditch score than the twins' marks.
"My parents are oh-so-proud of my darling twin for her OWLs, making me look bad," I scoffed at the thought of them yelling at me this summer, "I need you boys to throw every Bludger her way."
Fred threw his arm around my shoulders with a large grin, "You know it's hard for me to do that, it's your pretty face in Slytherin gear. So confusing."
"Right, like the two of you both wearing Gryffindor gear isn't?" Alicia retorted with a laugh.
"I guess I'll have to knock her teeth out myself," I smiled facetiously as we entered the Common Room.
"As long as you don't end up in the Hospital Wing – again," Angelina warned, rolling her eyes at me. It's not my fault I tend to fall off my broom.
The Common Room was homey as always. The plushy couch and armchairs, the roaring fireplace, loitering students in different corners catching up with each other, even the smell was nostalgic. The first years had already seemed to disperse up to their dormitories, as I caught a glimpse of Hermione disappearing up the stairs.
"As much as we'd love to chat more, loves –" Fred started.
" – We've got work to complete!" George finished.
The two quickly taped one of their flyers to the bulletin board before running off up to their dormitory with Lee, the three of the whispering to each other the entire way up.
The rest of us decided we'd head up as well, making our way up the opposing staircase. Katie and I reached the sixth-year dormitory and bid our farewells to Angelina and Alicia. I let out a sigh and threw myself into the bed that my long-haired cat, Pluto, was already laying on.
"I don't want to go to class tomorrow," I groaned rhetorically as Katie and Macey, our other dormitory mate, got ready for bed.
There were a few moments of silence, before Katie yelled out, "Merlin, the boys got fit this summer!"
