A Silent Meeting
Platform 9 ¾ was unsurprisingly packed with people. Mrs. Weasley gave each of them a bone-cracking hug. "Now, boys, do behave yourselves properly," she told the twins, "take care of yourselves, and listen to your brother." Placing a kiss on Percy's forehead, she addressed a few words to him that Ella didn't hear over the buzz of the crowd.
Casting an eye around, she caught sight of a girl standing on her own nearby. Ella's immediate impression was of a fawn, or some other fragile, innocent creature. The girl was wearing jeans, a crop top, Doc Martens, and a black string choker, but the bold outfit contrasted with her diminutive frame and rounded shoulders. The girl had very big, wide-set brown eyes, and a nervous expression tightened her features.
At that moment, she looked up, straight at Ella. Ella gave her an easy smile and a tiny wave. Before the unknown girl had time to react, Mrs. Weasley moved back into Ella's frame of vision and claimed her attention. "Ella, could I ask you to keep an eye on my sons for me?" she asked solemnly. "Not just Fred and George. Percy as well. I want to know if he is following a healthy schedule." Ella grinned and hugged her. "Of course, Mrs. Weasley." she said warmly.
After saying goodbye one last time, Ella and the twins followed Percy through the milling throng. A square-jawed boy with broad shoulders waved at Percy, and Ella recognized him as Oliver Wood, whom she had met twice before already. The four of them managed to find a compartment somewhere at the front of the Hogwarts Express, and Ella felt extremely grateful to escape the hubbub of excited voices. A moment later, however, the mass began boarding the train. Outside the compartment, Percy was talking very fast to the twins - had they already done something to merit a scolding?! - so Ella took advantage of the distraction to bag a window seat. Glancing outside, she noticed the doe-eyed girl with the dark clothes still standing on the platform. She was no longer alone however, and appeared deep in conversation with a scruffy-looking boy.
"Ella?" She tore her gaze from the platform. Percy had sat down beside her and was looking concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked her. She blinked once, rapidly. "I'm sorry your parents couldn't make it today." he continued, and Ella felt a pang. Truth be told, their absence had bothered her more than she wanted to admit to herself. She mumbled something noncommittal, even though she knew Percy wouldn't back down. He was like his mother in that way. "They really wanted to, you know," he said, moving a little closer to her. "But they didn't." she whispered, the words falling from her lips like raindrops from a heavy cloud. "I know they love me, and… Well, you know. Cherish me. I can see it in my father's eyes and feel it in my mother's hugs. I can sense it in the way they keep pushing me to learn because they want me to be successful in life. I just there was more time in the world." She rubbed her nose and looked into Percy's blue eyes. He blinked sympathetically and his arm twitched slightly, almost as though he wanted to reach out to her physically. Ella knew intuitively he wouldn't but felt comforted by the small gesture anyway.
The twins (where had they been?) slammed the compartment door open noisily and plonked themselves down on the seats opposite their brother and Ella. Almost at the same time, the Hogwarts Express jolted forwards, officially beginning their journey. A strange bubble of mingled emotions seemed to pop in Ella's chest, and she felt a bizarre desire to laugh. For the first time in a very long time, she felt free. She let Fred and George's excited chatter fade into the background, her wide eyes absorbing the picturesque landscape that had begun flashing by outside. Next to her, Percy had resumed the lecture of his book.
At that moment, a knock rattled the compartment door.