Do mine eyes deceive me or is this an update? Please don't expect such a speedy update next time because I can't promise it.
I should perhaps mention, because I've had a couple of reviews on the subject, that Hazel and Hermione are decidedly not the same person. Hazel is an OC whereas Hermione is our resident time traveller. Just so we're clear :)
Thank you to those of you who've added this story to favourites/alerts, and to those who've been kind enough to review.
To Chocolate dagger: Lovely pen name. Is this fast enough for you my dear :)
IV: Journeys from Platform 9 ¾
"See you soon Remmy!" Hazel called from the doorstep as Remus and his mother, a nice lady named Charlotte, headed down the drive towards the road so they could hail the triple decker Knight Bus. Remus waved over his shoulder as his mother threw out her wand hand for the magical vehicle. Remus had come to visit a couple of times since he and Hazel had met in Madam Malkin's; this last time his mother had made arrangements for them all to meet on 1st September so the twins could get onto platform 9 ¾.
Hazel and Lily's last month of solely muggle life passed without major incident. Petunia's kitten seemed bemused by the fact that Hazel didn't like her, and had taken to hanging around her every chance she got. Lily was spending more and more time with Severus and Petunia only showed her face at meal times, so it was a good thing that Remus was able to visit, or Hazel might have gone mad with boredom.
Remus craned his neck, looking round for Hazel. He and his parents had arrived at Kings' Cross just before quarter-to eleven and he was now searching the crowd of commuters for his friend. His parents shared a smile; Remus' condition had made making friends difficult for him and the young muggle born seemed to be good for him, hopefully Hazel wouldn't be the last friend he made.
"Calm down Remmy," his mother placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she'll be here soon."
"Remus!"
"Speak of the Devil," his father remarked, watching Remus' face light up on hearing Hazel's voice.
Remus turned to see his only friend weaving through the crowd towards them. Much to his surprise, the red head hugged him; his sharp nose picked up the scent of soap stone and vanilla.
"Hi Hazel," Remus smiled awkwardly when she'd let him go.
"Hello Mr and Mrs Lupin," Hazel greeted his parents. "It's nice to see you again."
"You too dear," his mother smiled. "Where are your parents?"
"They're over there," Hazel pointed towards the entrance.
Lily and Petunia were arguing about something or other when Hazel led Remus and his parents over to her family.
"Tuney, this is Mr and Mrs Lupin," Hazel smiled for the benefit of her one relative who had yet to meet the witch and wizard. "Mr and Mrs Lupin, this is my oldest sister, Petunia."
Petunia looked slightly sickened. Hazel really hoped that her big sister would at least pretend to be civil- much to her relief Tuney kept her mouth shut.
"Hello again," Lily smiled, politely.
"Hello dear," Remus' mother smiled back. "Are you ready for Hogwarts?"
"Yes ma'am," she nodded.
"Shouldn't we get onto the platform?" Remus' father asked. "The train will be leaving soon."
"Well, we would," her own father shifted embarrassed. "But we don't know how."
Remus laughed. "Come with us then, Mr Evans, we'll show you how to get on to the platform."
Getting onto Platform 9 ¾ took longer than it probably should have. Hazel had followed Remus and his parents straight through the barrier. Lily had taken a few seconds to be convinced that it was safe, their parents, who had begun to open their minds to the idea of Witchcraft and Wizardry had followed Lily. It was Petunia who had put up a fight. Hazel didn't understand this sudden reluctance to accept the Wizarding world; after all she'd seen the letter from Dumbledore.
Hazel had never been more thankful for the allergy potion she was on now because of all the cats which were loose on the platform. The three trunks were loaded onto the beautiful scarlet steam engine which stood waiting on the tracks.
"Well?" Remus asked.
"Wow," she shook her head. "I can't believe we're really going…"
"Me neither," he confessed. "I never actually thought I'd be accepted to begin with."
"What?" Hazel frowned, looking at him. "Why?"
"N-never mind," he stammered.
"Lily!"
"Oh bloody hell," Hazel murmured, rolling her eyes in frustration. "Severus."
"Who?" Remus asked, puzzled.
His answer came as the batlike figure of Severus Snape, already clad in his new school uniform approached Lily and was rewarded with a hug from her.
"That's Severus," Hazel murmured for Remus' ears only. "Lily's best friend."
"Ah," Remus nodded, then gestured to the train. "Shall we?"
"Yeah," Hazel hugged their parents one last time before joining Remus. "We're going to find seats; Lils- come and find us when you're done here."
Lily nodded and approached Petunia, who stood looking like she'd rather be just about anywhere than on a train platform that shouldn't technically exist. Hazel turned and followed her best friend onto the train.
It took a little while because most of the compartments were already full, but eventually they found an almost empty one. Its sole occupant was a short skinny boy with a mop of messy black hair and glasses over a pair of hazel eyes. He looked up as they entered and grinned at them.
"Hi," he greeted them, running a hand through his already messy hair and rumpling it further. "I'm James."
"I'm Hazel," said Hazel.
"Who's your friend?" James asked.
"Remus," said Remus.
"First years too?" he asked.
They nodded and James gestured to the empty compartment. "Make yourself at home, Hazel and Remus."
James had been fascinated to learn that Hazel was a Muggle born- he himself was pureblood so hadn't spent very much time around Muggles. He began to plague her with questions.
"Is it true that Muggles don't play Quidditch?"
"What's Quidditch?" Hazel asked, frowning.
James had appeared outraged that she didn't know what Quidditch was and he had immediately launched into an explanation of a sport played on broomsticks. A sport with seven players; three called Chasers, two called Beaters, one called a Seeker and one Keeper. He'd gone on to tell her about the four balls: the big red Quaffle that the Chasers scored points with; two black Bludgers which flew around pelting the players and the little golden Snitch which the Seeker had to catch to end the game.
"I'm sorry I asked," Hazel muttered to Remus as James continued his rant.
"Don't worry," Remus told her. "It gets easier to get the hang of when you're watching a match."
Mercifully the compartment door slid open, cutting off James mid-flow, Lily entered and plonked herself down on one of the empty seats; her knees tucked under her chin. Hazel bit her lip, her twin was about to cry.
"Merlin," James put in. "She doesn't half look like you Hazel."
"That's because she's my twin sister James," Hazel shot back, moving towards her sister, before she could reach her however, Severus barged in and sat next to her.
"I don't want to talk to you." Lily hissed, her voice constricted.
"Why not?" Severus frowned.
"Tuney h-hates me." Lily sniffled. "Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore."
Ah, Hazel bit her lip, why did Lily have to mention the letter?
"So what?"
Both twins threw him a look of deep dislike.
"So she's my sister!" Lily snapped.
"She's only a…" He caught himself quickly; Lily, too busy trying to wipe her eyes without being noticed, did not hear him, Hazel glowered at him.
"But we're going! You and me," he said, unable to suppress the exhilaration in his voice. "And Hazel of course… This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"
She nodded, mopping her eyes, but in spite of herself, she half smiled.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," said Severus, encouraged that she had brightened a little.
"Slytherin?" James scoffed. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
Hazel and Remus shared a glance- they'd spoken about this.
"Well maybe I wouldn't leave." Hazel demurred. "Where are you heading then James, if you've got the choice?"
James lifted an invisible sword. "'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad."
It was Severus' turn to scoff, James turned on him.
"Got a problem with that?"
"No," Snape replied- although the slight sneer said otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy …"
"So where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?"
Lily sat up, rather flushed, and looked at James in deep dislike.
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." Lily rose, glaring daggers at James. "Are you coming Hazel?"
"No,"
Lily stared at her twin as if she'd grown a second head. "Excuse me?"
"No Lily," Hazel repeated. "You go on if you want to- but I'm going to stay here."
The betrayed look in her twin's green eyes almost made Hazel regret her decision, almost. Lily suddenly turned and stalked from the compartment, nose in the air; with Severus following along in her wake. When the door had slid shut behind them Hazel turned to glare at James.
"What gives you the right?" she snarled. "To be nasty about someone you've only just met? If Severus hadn't mentioned his mum's old house you probably wouldn't have had a problem with him!"
She didn't mention how quickly her relationship with Severus had turned sour.
Hazel slipped back into the compartment with Remus and James, now dressed in her new uniform- she'd slipped out to change. The boys had taken the opportunity to change too, and were now starting yet another game of exploding snap.
"How long do you think it'll take to reach the station?" Hazel asked sitting down opposite the two boys.
"Don't know," Remus told her, as the cards exploded again; he looked up at the window, it was dark outside. "But I don't think it'll be long now."
Sure enough, about ten minutes later, the train began to slow down.
Meanwhile, in another compartment, further down the train, Sirius Orion Black, heir to the ancient and most noble house of Black, sat silently, trying not to listen to his two older cousins and their fellow Slytherins, and growing more disgusted by the second. He had hoped to meet some completely new people today- but no… cousins Bella and Cissa had dragged him into their compartment. Sirius had known for quite a while that he wasn't like most of his family- he didn't understand their aversion to Mudbloods; they were magical too, weren't they?
Hazel had to fight not to be swept along in the tide of students leaving the train. She grabbed Remus to keep from losing him in the sea of black robed students making their way out of the station.
"Firs' years," a deep booming voice called out. "Firs' years, this way."
Hazel looked in the direction of the deep booming voice only to find herself staring at a huge hairy giant of a man. She looked over at Remus; he didn't seem intimidated by the huge man.
"Who's that?" she asked.
"That's Hagrid," he told her. "Mum and dad told me about him- he's the gamekeeper, he looks a bit scary but he's a big softy really, come on."
He towed her towards Hagrid.
The boats had filled up quickly; by the time Sirius got to the side of the lake; only a few of them had any space left. There was a group of three; two boys, and a girl sitting in one of them, talking like old friends. He knew who one of the boys must be; he had messy black hair and glasses like all the Potter males for generations- his father kept going on about how the Potters were blood traitors. The other boy was a bit sickly looking with sandy hair and light scarring on his face. The girl was pretty in an odd sort of way, she had short dark red hair which framed her and pale, freckled face, the excitement in her body language meant that she could only be Muggle born. The girl, as if feeling his eyes upon her looked over at him with large mismatched eyes, and smiled at him.
A part of Sirius, the part of him who was the person he desperately wanted to be (the part that, under no circumstances he could show around his parents) urged him to smile back.
He had to find a boat, his parents would have a fit if they got wind of him so much as associating with Mudbloods and blood traitors; however, at that moment he was lifted from the ground by the Giant and placed into the boat with the Potter boy the Muggle born and the scarred boy.
"Hi," the Muggle born smiled at him.
Oh how he wanted to smile back, the girl seemed so nice; he couldn't give in to the temptation, so he turned away to watch where they were going.
"Forget him Haze," one of the boys sniffed. "He's probably from a family of blood purists."
Sirius forced himself to ignore that comment, but he really wanted to protest that he was nothing like the rest of his bloodline (well with the exception of Uncle Alphard, Drom and hopefully Regulus) he wasn't going to start hexing people just because they were of a different blood status to him.
"Does either of you know how we're going to be sorted?" the Muggle born, Haze apparently, asked, curiously.
"No," the second boy replied.
"Mum and dad wouldn't tell me," the first boy sighed. "I think there's some unwritten rule about not telling first years how they sort us."
Sirius clenched his fists; he knew exactly what was going to happen tonight. Who would know if he just told them how they were going to be sorted? His parents would never find out.
"I know how they sort us," he announced quietly, finally allowing himself to look at his companions.
"How?" the girl asked curiously.
"With an enchanted hat,"
The Potter boy snorted. "Yeah right, it can't be that easy,"
"Why not?" the second boy asked Potter. "You're the Pureblood James, why shouldn't it be that easy?"
"Because..." Potter faltered. "Because..."
"You can't think of anything can you James?" the girl grinned. "Make a note in your diary Remus, 1st September 1971 James Potter fails to come up with an answer."
"Shut up Hazel," James put his hand in the water, withdrew it again and splashed the girl
"James!" Hazel laughed and splashed him back.
By the time the boats docked all four of them were more than slightly damp; Remus was the only one who didn't appear amused, as he was the only one who hadn't joined in the splash war- Sirius had become involved when James and Hazel had decided to team up and turn on him.
"You're alright for a blood purist," James clapped him on the shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Sirius," said Sirius, without divulging his surname- he liked these guys and didn't want them to turn on him just yet. "And you're James, Hazel and Remus."
The four first years (Sirius couldn't bring himself to call them friends, they were going to turn on him the second he ended up in Slytherin) followed the rest of their year and the Giant up to the massive oak front door of the castle and knocked.
~V~
Hope y'all liked this chapter :)
Next up we're back with the Grangers, and we have the Sorting Ceremony.