So, here is the first chapter. Introducing some of the characters and all that jazz.
Enjoy!
Chapter One
My dad gave my hand a reassuring squeeze as we stood on Platform 9 ¾. I gazed around with wide eyes at the bustling station. A huge scarlet train sat on the railway, puffing billows of black smoke out of its chimney. Groups of students stood with their families, saying their goodbyes.
Older children caught up with their friends about their summer holidays while new students, like me, hung around, receiving anxious hugs from their parents.
"So," my mum said in amazement, "This is where you went for seven years, Rupe?"
"Yep," dad said happily. His eyes were gleaming with memories of his own childhood, hopping onto the Hogwarts Express every year, off to enjoy whatever the school threw at him.
"Lucky little Grace gets to come here early for a few years," mum said, referring to my one-year-old sister who was chatting to herself in mum's arms, completely in her own little world.
"Dad?" I said. I swallowed nervously.
"Yes, honey?"
"What if I get put in Slytherin?"
"Then we'll disown you." His voice was serious, but he smiled down at me with the look in his eyes that told me he was only joking.
"Dad, seriously! What if the hat sorts me into Slytherin because I'm a bad person?"
"Kamara Brooke Jenson," he said, kneeling down to my height. He gripped my tiny hands within his large ones. "If there is one person in this whole crazy world who I know to be the sweetest, loveliest, most kind and gentle person there is, it is you. Always remember that no matter what happens, honey, your mother and I will always love you for who you are, not what you are. Even if you get sorted into Slytherin."
"Kam, dear, it's nearly eleven!"
"Oh!" I gasped. My stomach was suddenly overflowing with butterflies.
"You'll be fine, honey, don't worry about it."
"Remember to write to us every week, Kam, dear."
"And stay out of trouble."
"And study for your exams."
"And stay away from boys."
"Dad!" I whined. He gave me an innocent look.
"What? When I was in my first year-" He stopped because mum had raised an eyebrow at him. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, honey, I'll help you with your trunk."
"Ok. Bye, mum! Bye, Grace!"
Dad picked up my trunk and followed me to the train, where he helped me lift it on.
"You'll have an amazing year, honey, just you wait and see. Stop worrying and enjoy it! You'll be back for Christmas in no time."
"Bye, dad," I smiled.
"Bye, honey," he said, kissing me on the cheek.
The train's whistle blew and dad stepped back. I dragged the heavy trunk over to a window, where I waved until my family were nothing but specks in the distance.
With a shaky sigh, I turned to the corridor. It was emptying rapidly, every student getting to where they wanted to be. I didn't know what to do. Everyone seemed to know each other, and I didn't know anyone. I was never any good at making friends. I tended to keep to myself. Should I just walk into any old compartment and declare myself to anyone and everyone who may be in there? Or should I wander the corridor until someone felt pity for me and invited me in, to pretend to be my friend until the journey was over? Honestly, I preferred the latter even if it meant that I'd be friendless in the future. At least I wouldn't make so much of an idiot of myself.
I began to wander, hopefully glancing in every compartment that I passed. Maybe there would be an empty one somewhere. I turned around, with the intention of walking back up the way I had came, but gasped as I crashed into a boy with sandy brown hair and brown eyes. Our heads collided and we stumbled back, clutching our bumped places.
"Oh, I'm so sorry –", I began, but was cut off by the boy holding out his hand with a shy smile.
"Remus Lupin," he introduced himself.
Smiling sheepishly, I shook his hand, "Kamara Jenson. I really am so sorry. I didn't see you –"
"Don't worry about it," Remus said, shaking his head. "Can't find a compartment?"
"I was just going to look up there..." But at that moment, the door from a compartment further up the corridor slid open and a red-haired girl stormed out, followed by a sallow greasy-haired boy who stumbled into the corridor.
"Are you ok?" Remus asked them as they got closer, trying to find somewhere else to sit.
"Yes, thanks," the girl said coldly, obviously still angry about whatever had just happened. She kept her head down, but she glanced up at me as she passed and I noticed that her face was blotchy like she had recently been crying. I took her hand before I had thought about what I was doing. I had always hated seeing people cry.
"What's happened?" I asked gently. The girl looked at me in surprise, and then smiled slightly.
"It was nothing, don't worry. I'm Lily by the way, Lily Evans. And this is Severus Snape."
"I'm Kamara Jenson."
We had made an instant connection. As we parted ways, me with Remus and Lily with Severus, I had a smile on my face. I knew that I had just made a friend for life.
"So, shall we find a compartment?" Remus asked.
"That's a good idea. I wish I had thought of it," I smiled.
He laughed.
We found a compartment in which sat two boys. One had his feet up on the seat next to him, and the other was talking animatedly about Quidditch. I knew about Quidditch because my dad was obsessed with it. He used to play Chaser when he was at Hogwarts. They both looked up when we entered.
"Is it ok if we sit here?" Remus asked.
"Yeah, sure," said the one with messy black hair and glasses, who had been talking. The other boy, who had long black hair that fell elegantly into his eyes, moved his feet so that there was a free seat next to him. He looked at me hopefully.
Blushing, I sat as far from him as possible, on the opposite row of seats, next to the window. I fiddled with the hem of my skirt nervously, looking anywhere but at the boys. I had a sinking feeling that this was the compartment which Lily and Severus had just flown out of in a rage. Remus sat opposite me.
"So, what are your names?" asked the boy with glasses, looking between us, "Are you brother and sister?"
"No," Remus corrected, "We've only just met. I'm Remus Lupin and this is Kamara Jenson." I looked up, smiled shyly, and looked back down.
"Sirius Black," the long-haired boy said, holding out a hand to Remus, who shook it, and then to me. I eyed it nervously, and then shook it hesitantly. He grinned and said to the other boy, "She just held my hand. I told you we'd be popular with the ladies."
I bit back a gag, blushing fiercely.
"I'm Potter. James Potter," the other boy said, after high-fiving his friend. "I'll take it you're both first-years too?"
"Yes," said Remus.
"What house do you want to be in? That freak Snivellus wanted to be in Slytherin. Can you believe it? And Sirius here – his whole family has been in Slytherin. But we think he'll break the tradition. He seems alright, don't you think?"
I grimaced discreetly.
"Either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor," Remus answered.
"What about you … Kamara, isn't it?"
"Well … I'd like to be in Gryffindor like my dad, but I don't think I'm very brave. I think I'm more of a Hufflepuff person. Dad says that I'll be in Gryffindor, though."
Through the whole journey, the boys talked non-stop. I took out a book from my trunk and curled up in my corner seat with it.
The huge castle doors opened silently and in their frame stood a woman with greying hair pulled up into a tight bun, and very stern, pointed features.
"Good evening. I am Professor McGonagall, Gryffindor's Head of House and your Transfiguration teacher. If you would all follow me…"
She turned and began walking through the entrance hall. We all poured after her. I looked around, fascinated by everything. Tension and excitement hung in the air like bats. Everyone whispered to each other as we tried to keep up with Professor McGonagall.
As we passed a painting of a soppy looking witch in a meadow, several people jumped as the witch watched us.
"Well," she said, affronted, "You don't have to look so shocked! You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Right on cue, as if they had previously rehearsed it, a pearly white figure of a forlorn woman floated over us and disappeared through a wall. Several people shrieked again. I didn't see what was so strange about them – they were just normal, weren't they? Had they really never seen a ghost or a moving picture before?
"That's the Hufflepuff Ghost," I heard Severus tell Lily. They were walking a bit ahead of me. Lily was staring after where the ghost had just vanished. "She's known as the Grey Lady. Nobody really knows anything about her."
"Hogwarts is haunted?" she gasped.
"Yes, but its ok. These ghosts don't hurt you like in the Muggle stories."
We were all taken through into the hall, where we had to stand in front of the whole school. I gulped. Hundreds of faces were staring at us, judging us. I had never felt so nervous in my life. I felt close to passing out.
I looked up, preying that I'll be put into Gryffindor, and gasped at the domed ceiling. It was high and covered in stars, matching the sky that showed through the windows perfectly. It was beautiful. As I gazed up at it, a shooting star flew across the inky black sky. I closed my eyes and wished with all of my heart for Gryffindor.
"Avery, Erabos, please come and sit on this chair," McGonagall called out to the silenced Great Hall.
A big, rough-faced boy waddled out of the crowd and plopped himself down onto the chair. Professor McGonagall lowered the hat onto his head and it immediately shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
The table at the far end of the room, which was decorated with green and silver, cheered as he waddled down from the platform and over to find a seat.
"Black, Sirius," McGonagall called.
Sirius brushed past her and walked to the chair with what could have been confidence, if it wasn't for the fact that his mouth was moving in a silent prayer for 'anywhere but Slytherin, anywhere but Slytherin'.
"Good luck, mate," James said.
The hat stayed silent for quite a while once it was on his head. Then, finally, it shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
A table decorated in red and gold cheered, but I noticed that over on the Slytherin table, the faces were stony. Especially that of two older girls who looked strikingly similar to Sirius. One had curly black hair, and the other had straight blonde hair. They were both pretty in a snooty, posh sort of way.
"Evans, Lily," McGonagall called.
Lily went over and sat on the chair with shaking legs. She looked almost as white as the ghosts which floated around the room, watching with interest.
The hat had barely touched her head when it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" As she went to find a seat, she sent a sorry look to Severus, who looked thoroughly crestfallen.
After a while, McGonagall finally called out, "Jenson, Kamara."
I took a deep breath before pushing my way through the crowd. I sat on the chair, trembling from head to toe.
"Well, well, well," said a voice in my ear that made me jump out of my skin, "Your mind is extraordinary, indeed. So open and innocent. You are timid, but you have a strong heart. Very loyal, talented … but you find it hard to trust people. Hmm … I think that you will learn a lot in … GRYFFINDOR!"
Relief flooded through me and I felt the colour return to my face. I joined the cheering red and gold table, sitting next to Lily who grinned at me.
"This is amazing; I really wanted to be in Gryffindor," I told her.
"I'm glad that I'm with you," she smiled, "But I wanted to be in Slytherin with Snape. And now I'm stuck with-" She cast Sirius a filthy look, which he returned with a wink.
A short while later, Remus joined us and then so did James (much to Lily's dismay). Severus, however, was sorted into Slytherin. I looked over at him and he was sat at his table, gloomily gazing over at Lily.
I smiled to myself. Looks like this year could be interesting, I thought.