Chapter 5: Second Year

I looked up at the giant train in front of me, happy to be going back to Hogwarts. I glanced over at my mom and felt a rush of worry for her. She looked tired. Really tired. She had black circles around her green eyes. Her black hair, the hair I had inherited from her hung dully past her shoulders. She was leaning against the wall and breathing hard. She had been sick all summer, and I had been taking care of her. Not that I minded. The only time I had been pulled away from her was when she had, against my knowledge, talked to the twins, telling them when my birthday was so that they could come and practically kidnap me for my birthday, which was June 20.

The twins had picked me up, taken me to Diagon Alley for lunch, and then bought me a beautiful dusky barn owl. I could tell by there looks that the owl had been expensive, and I tried to tell them it was fine, but they had said no, then pulled out what I could only assume was their life savings, and bought me the owl they had picked out. I hadn't been able to say thank you enough.

But other than my birthday, my summer had been pretty much uneventful. I wrote to everyone every week, and everyone but Harry responded. I felt kinda hurt that Harry wouldn't write back, but I shrugged it off. I had heard about Harry's horrendous family, and so they probably had something to do with it.

I was brought back to the present when my mom walked away from the wall and towards me.

"Stop looking so worried. I'll be fine. You go learn and have fun." She said, her voice sounding weak and fragile. I heard the whistle blow, warning me it was about to leave. I quickly ran and gave my mom a gentle squeeze, afraid to hurt her.

"Be carful and get better," I said, kissing her cheek. "I'll write every week." She smiled, kissing my cheek.

"I'll be careful, but only if you do the same." I nodded at her. "Ok, I love you,"

"I love you to," I said, grabbing my trunk and backpack and hurrying towards the train.

"I'll miss you!" she called out.

"I'll miss you too!" I yelled, smiling through the slight sheen of tears. I hated leaving her when she was so sick, but she had convinced me earlier that day, when I said I would stay home that year, that she would be fine.

"Tell your Weasley boys I said hi!" she yelled over the whistle as the train started leaving. I nodded, waving. I laughed when she said my Weasley boys. Yeah, I guess the twins were my boys.

As soon as the train was out of sight, I started down the halls, looking for a free compartment. I looked in one to see Neville, who waved, but Seamus, Dean, and the Patil twins were with him, so I waved back and kept walking. I wasn't really paying attention and ran into a small red head girl.

"Oh, sorry, I-" I stopped mid-sentence. "Oh. Are you a Weasley?"

"Yes. What's it to you?" she asked, sounding a bit irritated.

"Oh. I'm friends with most of your brothers. Or I think I am. You are Ginny, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, then yes, I'm friends with your brothers. Um hey, do you happen to know where Fred and George are?" I asked.

"Yea, there in the compartment over there," she hiked her thumb at it. "With Lee Jordan."

"Excellent. Thank you, and I hope to see you around," I said, giving her a smile as I walked around her to where her brothers were.

"Hey, what's your name?" she called after me.

"Jaxon," I said, turning my head to look at her.

"The Slytherin?"

"The one and only." I said, unsure of what treatment to expect from her.

"Oh. You're a bit different then what I expected. I excepted you to be more…Slytheriny…" she trailed off. I laughed.

"Sorry, but I'm all nice and peaceful. More like a Hufflepuff," I said, smiling. She smiled back, waved, and started walking the other way. I shook my head, continuing on my way. I peered in the carts until I found the one I was looking for. I slid open the door. All three boys looked up, then smiled when they seen me.

"Jaxon!" Lee exclaimed, getting up to hug me. I patted him on the back.

"Missed you to, Lee." I said, a smile in my voice. He let me go and allowed me in the compartment. When I went to put my luggage away, Fred and George took it from me. I smiled in thanks as they put it away and then I sat down next to Fred, as George sat next to Lee. For the rest of the time, we talked about the summer, what we did, just nonsense, but Fred and George were wise enough not to bring up my mother. I was glad, because if we brought up that subject I might just cry.

Soon, we were at Hogwarts, and I rushed to put my robes on. I was one of the last people off the train because of that but I smiled brightly when I seen the twins and Lee waiting for me. I walked up to them, linking one arm around Lee's arm and one around Georges arms, walking towards the carriages.

When we got to the great hall I was debating whether I should go over to the Slytherin table or to the Gryffindor table when Lee and George answered for me by pulling me over to their table. Then I watched the little first years come in and be sorted. I clapped along with the other Gryffindors when Ginny Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor. No one was really surprised when she was, though, seeing as how all the other Weasley's were Gryffindors, too. I laughed and talked with the everyone, but I didn't see Harry or Ron through out dinner so I finally asked Hermione, who we had sat by.

"Hermione, were are Ron and Harry?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. I didn't see them on the train at all."

"Oh," I said, softly, and Hermione gave me the same concerned look I was pretty sure was on my face too.

"Don't worry, ladies, they'll-"

"Be fine. Ron is, after all, our brother." Fred finished for George. I laughed, but I was still worried about the two of them. They had a knack for finding trouble.

After the fest was over and Dumbledore had given his speech, we all made our way up the stairs to the Gryffindor common. Ginny protested, bringing up the whole Slytherin thing, but Hermione filled her in on why they all let me hang in the tower.

"Wattlebird," Percy said, his chest puffed up at being a prefect. Stupid prat had been bragging about it all through out dinner. I walked in, smiling brightly at being back here. Merlin, I missed Hogwarts.

I talked with everyone, but soon had the regret of having to leave and go back to my actual common room. I said a sleepy good bye before heading to the dungeon, praying most of the Slytherins were asleep by now. The only problem was that once I got down to the Slytherin house, I had absolutely no idea what the password was. I thought about it for a minute, then turned and headed towards potion class, cursing my luck the whole way.

I came to the door, taking a deep breath and praying the house head was here. I knocked lightly.

"Enter," a familiar cold voice said. I pushed open the door to see Snape sitting at the desk, doing what looked like lesson plans.

"Um, hi professor," I said sheepishly, rubbing the back of my head.

"I'm assuming, Miss Green, that this is not a social visit. What do you want?" he said, sounding a bit snappish.

"What's the password for the common room?" I asked, and he blinked in confusion, but that was it.

"Why don't you know it?" he said in a snide tone. He seemed really pissed. I would find out later it was because Harry and Ron had driven some enchanted car into the Whomping Willow and hadn't been expelled.

"I was seeing some friends I hadn't seen in a while," I said, looking down at the floor. I didn't want to tell him that I had been in the Gryffindor tower, hanging out with the Weasley's.

"Ah. You were with the Gryffindors again." He stated very casually. "The password is Salazar." He said, turning his attention back to work. I stood there, looking at him with a shocked expression.

"How…how do you know where I was?" I asked quietly.

"Professor McGonagall has informed me. We both agreed that it was best for you to spend most of your time with the Gryffindors." He said, not even bothering to look up from his work. I was quiet for a moment.

"Thank you," I said quietly. I wanted to tell him that I wish I could go to my common room. That I wasn't just some misbehaving delinquent that just wanted to be around my friends, but I didn't know how so I left when he nodded his head. I walked back to the common room, feeling giddy about being back at Hogwarts, about professor Snape's acceptance of my situation, and about seeing all my friends again.

As I walked in, I seen Draco leaning against the fire place, talking to some girl. With all the happiness inside me, I wanted to say something, but I turned away, knowing I would only get a sneer and foul words. That was the only trouble on my mind when I finally drifted to sleep that night.


So, I finally got this out. Only took me forever. Hope you like it. If not, let me know. I love me some reviews, good or bad XD