Chapter 3

"Mother! I really wish to go! Please let me go!" Emilie cried as we strode through King's Cross station. She was practically hanging from Mother's skirt while jogging to keep up. Her carrying on was making Trevor, our two-year old brother, cry. I was pushing my trolley, my light blonde hair tied loosely in a ponytail. I was beaming; I was excited.

"There it is kiddo!" said my dad. He pointed straight ahead to a pillar between platforms nine and ten. I almost squealed; Emilie did squeal.

"Remember how I told you to get through?" he asked, taking Trevor from my mother and putting the toddler on his shoulders. I nodded eagerly. I began pushing my trolley faster and faster until I ran straight into the barrier. Well, straight through the barrier. Before me were several kids and their parents. Some were wearing robes already. Behind everyone was the black and scarlet train, the Hogwarts Express.

My eyes whirled all about the platform. I saw one boy, standing nearby, who was already in his robes. A Prefect badge shined on his chest, and he appeared to be bragging to his parents and younger siblings. My dad laughed.

"That kid reminds me of your Uncle Percy," he said to me.

I grinned. Dad removed Trevor from his shoulders and held his hand as Trevor wobbled next to him.

"Come here, kiddo," Dad said, holding out a hand to me. I rushed over as Emilie took hold of the handle of my trolley.

"Have a great time, okay? Write tomorrow to tell us what house you're in. I'll miss you."

Dad knelt down and gave me a hug. "What house do you think I'll be in, Daddy?" I asked.

"Oh, it doesn't matter, sweet pea. But you have the brains for Ravenclaw, and the courage for Gryffindor. You're kind-hearted enough for Hufflepuff, too." I smiled.

"Victoire, ma chérie" my mother called. I kissed Dad on the cheek and hurried over to my mother. She embraced me tightly. "Bonne chance! Au revoir" Good luck, goodbye. "I love you," she said in English.

"I love you too, Mother! I'll miss you!" I cried. I returned her hug as she stroked my hair.

"Well, you'd better go find a compartment," she said, standing up.

"Bye, Victoire!" Emilie said, running over and hugging me around the waist. I hugged her back.

"I'll miss you, Emilie!" I said. She grinned.

"Write me every day!" she said. "Well, almost every day." I laughed.

I went back over to my father and kissed Trevor on the forehead. "Au revoir, mon frère!" I cooed.

"Hurry ,Victoire! The train's starting!" Mother called. I gasped and waved to father before grabbed my things and throwing them into the train. The horn sounded and I hurried toward a compartment door. My hair had come loose and was streaming behind me.

"Wait! Hold the door!" I cried. A boy a little older than me was just climbing aboard. I rushed past him, uttering a quick thank you as the train began to move.

Was it just me, or was his hair turquoise?

I shrugged it off as I wandered down the hallway, Vanna's cage in hand. She ruffled her feathers irritably. "I'm sorry," I muttered to her. She must have gotten rattled around quite a lot while I was running.

I walked down the hallway, occasionally peeking in doors to see if the compartments were full. Eventually, I found one.

"Excusez-moi? Is this seat taken?" I asked. The compartment was filled with girls who looked my age.

"No, go ahead," said one of the girls. She had light brown hair and glasses.

I sat down after putting Vanna's cage up top.

"What are you, French or something?" asked a girl, somewhat rudely. She had yellow-blonde hair that was tied behind her head tightly. She had bright green eyes. Her eyebrows were thin and her nose seemed to be upturned.

"Half-French," I replied. "And part veela. My name's Victoire Weasley."

"Vic-twah?" asked one of the girls. I smiled.

"Close," I said. "Veek-twar. But you can just call me Victa."

"I'm Tracy McArlwin," said the girl who'd mispronounced my name and who'd invited me in. Her eyes were gray and they glimmered in a friendly way.

"Nice to meet you," I said, holding out my hand.

"Wait, did you say you were a Weasley?" said the rude girl.

I sighed. "Yes, I am. And I am related to all those people you're thinking about."

"Hmm, I thought so. Hermione G. Weasley is your aunt, right? I didn't like her book much. It was so against the Dark Arts, as if they were all bad."

"I'm guessing your parents were in Slytherin?" I asked, dislike bubbling in my chest.

"Delaney Goyle, at your service," said the girl. I sniffed.

"And what are your names?" I asked the other two girls in the compartment.

"Od Relton," said another girl.

"Od?" I asked her.

"Oh, go on; tell her your full name. I think it's fine, you needn't be embarrassed," said Tracy.

Od sighed, her long dark eyelashes resting on her cheekbones for a moment. "My full name is Odysseia," she said. "I'm mostly Greek, as you can probably tell." It was easy to tell. Odysseia had olive skin and dark hair, with deep brown eyes. She was actually quite ravishing.

"I like it!" I assured her. "I think it's pretty. Besides, at least people can pronounce yours. With me, I always get 'Vic-toyer', or 'Victory', or 'Vic-twah.'" I gaze apologetically at Tracy at the last part. She grinned at me.

"Everyone can always pronounce my name," said Delaney snobbishly.

The girl whose name I still didn't know wrinkled her nose at Delaney when she looked away. I covered my mouth to hide my smile. "My name is Joelle Adamson, by the way."

Joelle had long brown hair that was bunched up in a messy hair do on the top of her head. Her skin was tan, but it looked sun-induced.

"Nice to meet you all," I said.

"What house do you all want to be in?" Joelle asked.

"My entire family is in Gryffindor," I said. "But I wouldn't mind breaking the trend."

"If I'm not in Slytherin, I'll go home," said Delaney. "They're the only respectable bunch at the school."

Delaney looked back down at the book she'd been reading, and Joelle stuck her tongue out and placed her finger on it in a disgusted way. Tracy snorted.

Delaney immediately looked up. "What's so funny?" she demanded.

Everyone shrugged innocently and Delaney looked back at her book, frowning.

"I want to be in Gryffindor, too, but I'll probably wind up in Hufflepuff," said Tracy, curling her hair with her finger.

"Oh, I'm sure Hufflepuff's not so bad," I said.

"I'll probably wind up in Gryffindor," said Odysseia. "But that's okay. It seems like an awesome place."

"I agree," said Joelle.

"Fingers crossed?" I asked.

"Fingers crossed!" said my new-found friends.

Delaney did not join in.