Year One

Chapter 10: Home for the Summer

"I PASSED!" Violet shouted as she came running down the great staircase to meet Madeline for breakfast.

Madeline grinned as her friend caught up to her. "Of course you did! You're a Ravenclaw!"

"Just because I'm a Ravenclaw doesn't mean that I'm automatically going to pass everything," Violet rolled her eyes as they walked into the Great Hall.

"But you did," Maddy pressed. "And I'll be willing to bet that you got O's in everything."

At this, Violet frowned. "Almost everything. I got an E in Charms and Herbology."

Madeline laughed out loud at this as they took their seats together at the Slytherin table. They'd taken to switching tables that they eat at so they could chat with all of their friends. They weren't the only ones either. The banners that hung over each table were the only way to identify which was which sometimes. And on days like today when everyone was excitedly comparing grades, it was especially true.

"Well? How did you do?" Vi asked as she helped herself to pancakes and turkey bacon.

"Well, I didn't get O's in everything, that's for sure," Maddy replied, a bagel in one hand. "I did manage to get an O in Charms and Defence though. Got E's in Herbology, Transfiguration, Astronomy, and Potions; and an A in History of Magic."

"Really? But that one is so easy! It's just recalling dates and facts."

Madeline chuckled. "Yeah, it's easy if you pay attention."

Violet gave her friend a stern look. "We'll be working on that for next year."

Madeline rolled her eyes, but didn't comment. The two girls finished their breakfast and then went separate ways to pick up their pets, Storm and Crone, before proceeding out to the main entrance where there was a queue forming for carriage rides out to the train station. They caught one with a couple of other first years from Hufflepuff. Storm and Crone still gave each other wary looks, but kept to themselves.

They finally boarded the Hogwarts Express and at eleven sharp, the whistle sounded and the train jerked forward. "Well, this is it. Won't be back for two months," Maddy commented.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss it," Vi agreed.

"It's just too bad we can't do magic outside of school."

"Yeah, I'd love to practice a bit!" Vi agreed.

Maddy chuckled. "No, I was thinking of the pranks I could pull on my sister!"

Violet rolled her eyes. "Then maybe it's a good thing that we can't do magic outside of school."

"You're no fun!" Maddy pouted, but a second later was laughing again.

The girls made the most of the rest of their trip back to London by inviting other first year friends they'd made into their compartment to play a massive game of Exploding Snap. Maddy Jacobson, Violet Hayden, Allison Longbottom, Terry Brooks (Ravenclaw), Gregory Baum (Hufflepuff), Mei Triggs (Hufflepuff), and Isla Desjardins (Slytherin) all crammed into one compartment to share stories from throughout the year, swap spells, and try to singe their eyebrows with Exploding Snap.

When the train rolled into Kings Cross Station, all agreed that it was too soon. The friends split up to go their separate ways, except for Maddy and Violet who went to find their families together. Platform 9 ¾ was chaotic as usual, but they eventually found their respective families and departed for Cardiff together. A whole three months without magic was going to be long, but at least they could visit each other and talk about it whenever they liked!