"Odran you need to wake up right now," A fairly familiar voice cut through his nightmares. He could tell whatever he was using for a pillow wasn't very soft so he rolled over and something jabbed him in the side. With a yipe he sat up rubbing where it had poked looking down through blurry eyes to his wand. His door opened abruptly and a very irritated Lucy came in pulling a huge trunk behind her. She shot a narrow eyed look at Odran before her eyes got big and she snickered covering her mouth a smile visible around her hand. Odran waited for her to calm down but when she didn't his gaze narrowed. He had been up until roughly two hours ago and he simply wasn't in the mood to be made fun of as only god knew what was wrong with him this morning. Once his expression went hellfire on her she relented rather quickly standing up straight before speaking.
"Mr. Muffin says you need to empty out your pouch and put everything in this," she said in an informative tone letting the huge trunk drop. Odran winced at the noise before watching Lucy go with a little bit more spring in her step as though seeing Odran had brightened up the day. Odran looked around until he saw a clock and groaned seeing it was 6 am. Odran stood still in the clothes he had worn yesterday and walked over to the small mirror. It only took one look for him to see what had made Lucy laugh and he rolled his eyes. He was notorious for his bed head and today he had gone beyond the call of duty. His hair looked like it had been styled to stand up on one side sticking straight up. It was probably from how he was sleeping on the book and so he went to his suitcase and scoured his things until he found the old black comb his grandfather had left him in his will. Odran swiftly fixed his hair so that it was falling normally again. Odran lifted his shirt off his head and threw it on the ground near the trunk. He swiftly pulled on his green T-shirt and didn't bother changing jeans. He took the bag and looked at it curiously. He sat down on his bed and shuffled his way over to his spell book and flipped pages for about ten minutes before he found what he was looking for. He grabbed up his wand from his bed spell book still in hand and moved the enchanted bag to the center of his bed. He glanced down at the spell again reading the instructions. He was about to try and unleash all his things at once when he remembered the rule of no magic outside school in the book. He would have to find a way around all these rules and all the surveillance charms and such that made it so hard to go unnoticed.
Odran took the bag and held it upside down shaking it but nothing came out. With a frustrated look he reached in and commenced taking everything out one at a time. It took him almost an hour to get everything put in his trunk. It was fairly roomy inside even after everything was in it because of his lack of possessions. The time was already 7:30 am and from what Mr. Muffins said yesterday the train left at 11:00 am. He made the bed and made sure everything was as it was before he came. If he didn't keep his room at home perfect he got beaten so it had become habit. The three of them had been put in rooms on the second floor and Odran made his way downstairs, his trunk banging on each step as he descended the stairs.
"Good morning Odran," Mr. Muffins said appearing out of nowhere with a large steaming mug in his hand and taking the trunk from Odran and heading towards the front door. Odran followed him staying quiet and saw that he was putting it on a small hand cart next to another trunk which he assumed was Lucy's. Once he had done that he turned to Odran with a big smile.
"Well don't just stand there breakfast is in there," he said waving his hand in the direction he had just come from. Mr. Muffin didn't have to tell him twice mostly because Odran hadn't had a decent breakfast since school went out for the summer. He didn't take time to notice the wide open room that was full of people and plopped down right next to Lucy who only frowned looking at his hair with a disappointed look. Odran didn't know where to start as he looked at the food in front of him but tore into the closest thing with little hesitation. Once again Lucy, who had been eating her warm oat meal, watched Odran who had just started on his and she moved her bowl away before picking up a piece of toast and heading towards the door. Odran thought he heard a mumbled "disgusting" but couldn't care less and looked around for Lucy when he noticed her oat meal wasn't gone. After making sure and he noticed Mr. Muffin busy talking to someone he finished hers in record time to before settling with a put out expression because she had taken her toast with her.
"Odran the cab will be here in a few minutes so hurry up," Mr. Muffin said heading towards the entrance. Odran stood after both Lucy's and his plates were clean and made sure he hadn't missed anything before going to the entrance himself. Mr. Muffin was loading the trunks into the taxi cab and Lucy was still nibbling on her toast from in the back seat of the cab. Odran hurried around the cab jumping in before closing the door and pulling on his seat belt before he looked up noticing Lucy giving him a rather disturbed look.
"What?" Odran asked with sincerity and she only looked away. Odran shrugged not even having an idea as to why he deserved such treatment but life wasn't fair and he knew it so he just patiently waited for Mr. Muffins to get in the taxi. Odran had never seen a real city and London was beautiful in his eyes. Kings Cross Station came into view a little sooner than Odran would like.
"I am going to go get the trolleys, you two get the trunks out of the cab," Mr. Muffins said while paying the driver and then went to get the trolleys. Odran went around and got his own trunk out of the back setting it upright with a grunt. He looked up and saw Mr. Muffin was on his way but Lucy was having trouble with her trunk so he went to help and Lucy only gave him a suspicious look before making room for him to help.
"Just don't eat it," she grumbled and a confused Odran helped her get the trunk out just as Mr. Muffin got to them and he put the two trunks on it. He barely shot them a smile before pulling the trolley through the station with the two children following his hurried pace.
"Umm Mr. Muffin…What's the hurry? It's only 9am…" Lucy asked softly as his longer legs made it hard for the children to keep up.
"Oh ah I remembered a meeting I have to be at. The old ghost is trying to get rid of me again," he said with a tired look over his shoulder and the two kids looked at each other with raised eyebrows before Odran shrugged and broke into a jog to keep up.
"Now your train will be leaving from platform 9 ¾ at eleven o'clock sharp. Seeing as you are arriving early you will likely have your pick of carts. Don't let any older students bully you out of it either. If I were you I'd stick together," he said with a apologetic smile over his shoulder. Lucy and Odran were jogging just to keep up with the long legged man but still Lucy found time to give Odran a distasteful look but this was followed by a look of resignation. After all he was the only one he knew and they were in the same situation so even if he did eat like a slob even a slobs company was better than no company.
The platforms seemed to go by in a blur as until they came to platform nine. Odran eyed his surroundings suspiciously noticing a rather significant number of people wearing odd clothing. Mr. Muffin made his way with expertise through the crowd and stooped in-between two arches. He glanced around a bit before pushing the trolley straight at a brick pillar. Odran raised a hand ready to warn him before Mr. Muffin walked straight through the solid pillar and only a small squeak escaped his open mouth. He turned to see Lucy gaping at what had just happened before she caught herself and sending Odran a haughty look that was ruined by her embarrassed blush she strode straight at the wall with her eyes closed and to Odran's continued disbelief she to disappeared into the wall.
Odran shook his head slightly before becoming determined. In all his life he was only afraid of one thing and that man was who knows how far away and only getting farther. He strode forward and closed his eyes waiting for impact but nothing came. He opened his eyes to see a massive red engined train. On the platform there was a steady stream of parents with kids who seemed to be around his age. He of course was smaller than them all but nothing would fix that or could it… He thought back to transfiguration and glanced at his trunk where a seemingly impatient Lucy stood with no sign of Mr. Muffin.
"Where did he go?" Odran asked walking up to Lucy with a confused look.
"He said he had an appointment and couldn't wait. He said we should look for the prefects if we are having any problems, and to drop off our things things with him," she said pointing to a grizzled by kind looking man who was napping next to the train at what looked like a cargo cart of the train near the back.
"How are we supposed to know who prefects are?" Odran said in a frustrated tone as he took the trolley from Lucy who submissively let go and followed him. Though they weren't exactly friends they were both alone in a new world and each other's company provided a certain amount of comfort.
"I think he said they will be older students with badges," Lucy said in an uncertain tone as they continued towards the old man.
Odran stopped in front of the snoozing man with a amused look at Lucy before he poked the man in the rips and stepped back hiding his hand in the same breathe.
"Uhg wha? Oh!" The man said jerking out of his sleep when he noticed the two children in front of him, "First years eh? Where're your parents?" he asked only to get a shrug from Odran and a pained look from Lucy, "Well I suppose you wouldn't have come to me if you had knowledgeable parents. Your lucky kids to get away from them muggles," he said with a grin as though the children were in on an inside joke. When Odran only frowned and Lucy nodded he turned his attention to the baggage and motioned for them to follow him.
"I'll store this in the back and you kids just choose a cart and take a nap or something. Trains not leaving for awhile and even then you have a long wait," he said in a completely business tone.
"He was a pleasant fellow," Odran said in a sarcastic tone as he found a way into one of the train cars. Odran wasn't exactly picky as the first empty compartment, which happened to be the first one he saw considering they were so early, he slipped in followed by a cautious Lucy. They took seats opposite one another Odran pulling his transfiguration book out and started to try and read more when he found his eyes closing. Odran jerked awake as their sliding door was slammed open and he looked over to a surprised Lucy.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Odran asked with a harassed look at the rodent like thing in Lucy's lap and her gaze went from the door to Odran to her rodent and back to him clinging the rodent to her chest and giving him The Look.
"She is a guinea pig and you leave her alone," she scolded in a harsh tone before a clicking sound got both Odran's and Lucy's attention back to their visitors. There were two boys and three girls. One boy who looked about their age had platinum blonde hair and a sneer on his face. Right before he spoke a haughty feminine voice spoke from somewhere in the hall. Odran looked around the boys to see the third girl who was obviously irritated. She was taller than the rest and had somewhat long curly hair that looked black until the light hit it and he realized it was a very dark shade of blue. He didn't have any time to pursue his queries as she crossed her arms with a small tut before she disappeared from view with a bored look.
"Did you really bring me here just to harass some mudbloods?" she said in a annoyed voice, "I'm going back," she said her voice already becoming quieter as she left and the other two girls followed her and the blonde haired boy shot her a dirty look before turning his attention back to Odran and Lucy.
"Maybe they will start putting all the trash in the same carts," the blonde boy said throwing some kind of wrapper on the floor and the other boy laughed loudly. Odran only rolled his eyes and went back to reading his book even though he was still slightly tired but he couldn't help but notice Lucy's down cast eyes and the slight tremble that went through her body. Odran sighed inwardly getting ready to make a retort to the bully when a deep voice spoke.
"Stop this Scorpius. Do you really want to be seen associating with mudbloods?" A tall blond student asked with a emotionless face. It was obvious the two were siblings but the olders eyes were not as cold as the younger's, mysterious but not nearly as cold.
"Shut up Remus," he sneered in a mocking tone that ended in a smug grin, "I'll do as I please," he finished leaving the cart. Lucy was looking up with a confused look before the two of them saw the prefect badge. His expressionless face was marred by a slight frown in what almost looked like pity.
"If they bother you again just push down on this," Remus said handing Lucy a gold coin which she looked at with confusion before pushing down on the face of the coin and a soft chirping filled the room and Remus held up the coins twin with a soft smile, "I have things I must attend," Remus said before stepping out and closing their door behind him and disappearing down the hall in the direction his brother had gone.
Odran waited a short time to see if anyone else would try to barge in before turning to Lucy with a cautious look. He stayed like that for a short time trying to decide if he should say anything as she seemed a bit shaken up.
"You ok?" he said quietly from behind his book trying to hide any concern from the girl he was sure already hated him. There was a long silence before she spoke and he assumed she wasn't going to say anything at all.
"My mother called me that a lot," she said with downcast eyes and Odran only looked at her with confusion. She risked a few careful glances up only to see a dumb founded Odran and her temper flared.
"Trash you idiot," she said with haughty flare and realization hit Odran. He felt a little bad but whatever bad mood had filled Lucy seemed to have disappeared with an opportunity ti insult Odran so he only smiled and went back to his book.
"Don't worry about it. I've been called things much worse," Odran said in a attempt to comfort her.
"Hmph!" was Lucy's only response and when Odran glanced over his book she wasn't shaken anymore but actually looked mad. Odran only shrugged and half wished there was a book that could explain girls.
Odran read his book patiently trying to ignore Lucy's antics with her Guinea Pig or whatever it was but within the next fifteen minutes the door flew open once more and Odran could only sigh.
Four girls poured into the room making Odran's eyes go wide as he scooted to the window with a startled look. They were led, and it was very easy to see she was the ringleader, by a short girl with black hair and tanned skin who wore a smug smile letting her robes swish about with a confidant air as the first two girls entered. The first was just as short as Odran and the black haired girl, which if he hadn't been so startled by the invasion he would have felt good about, with light brown hair that was a bit frizzy at the ends but had bright blue clips holding her hair out of her face. She unlike the black haired girl was wearing denim jeans with a T-shirt and a long yellow scarf wrapped around her neck and face that nearly hid the sprinkling of freckles on her face. She had a nervous look as she sat timidly on the same side as Odran but was just as squished up against the wall as he was against the window. The second was taller with deep dark red hair, that was probably mistaken as dark brown when light wasn't in the room or if she was outside, which only made her dark green eyes stand out more against her pale skin. She wore a pair of denim shorts with a dark blue shirt on and sandals and quickly took a seat right next to Lucy who looked as nervous as Odran. The fourth practically skipped in nearly tripping on her robes when the black haired girl caught her with a laugh. Odran's jaw dropped open when the girl's, who had nearly fallen, hair turned pink and a slight blush filled her cheeks before she laughed back and with a twirl she stood straight glancing at the cabin with a smug look looking over at the black haired girl with a mischievous twinkle in her eye and her hair turned back into a soft brown.
"Mission accomplished?" she asked maintaining her mischievous look.
"You almost made it without falling this time Cami," the black haired girl said poking Cami in the ribs playfully.
"If I didn't pretend to fall you wouldn't feel important Amina!" she said with a shrug her hair flaring pink for a second and Amina laughed as the other four kids just looked at the pair with reactions carrying from amused to annoyed Odran being the annoyed one.
"What mission?" Odran asked in a bored tone and Amina's eyes narrowed at him and he looked back at her with a nervous expression, "What?"
"You're an ass," she said decisively still peering at Odran with an appraising look before the cabin erupted in giggles Lucy trying her best to stifle her own laughter. Odran stood to leave closing his book with a pissed off look but was stopped before he could get past the two robed girls.
"Oh stop being such a baby," Cami said her hair turning a dark green as she took the smaller boy by the shoulders and pushed him back to his seat where he only grunted and looked out the window. She went back and sat next to the girl with the shorts getting in a lounging position putting her arm on the back of the seat behind the girl rocking her head from side to side almost like she was listening to music and Amina let the door shut and took a step forward with a confidant air.
"This is all the muggleborns of our year at Hogwarts," Amina said with a smile before looking to the girl sitting by Odran, "This is Nyssa Divinia White and dubbed my opposite and sister because what is Black without White?" she asked with a broad grin and even Nyssa smiled from under her scarf before Amina pointed to the other girl.
"Rosemarie Hathaway," she said with a bit of flare when Rose spoke up.
"Just Rose," she said in a shy quiet voice.
"You heard her my little minions," Amina said before her gaze shifted to Lucy and Amina's face scrunched up in concentration.
"Lucy Lewis?" she said her voice coming as close to uncertain as Odran had heard it today. Though he was looking out the window he was paying a fraction of his attention if only to get their names right. He had some questions but figured he would let the little entertainer continue her routine. Amina's head turned back to me and she grinned wickedly.
"And the ass," she said jovially with a wide grin and a few snickers filled the cabin and Odran looked away again right as another voice spoke up.
"Odran Brennen," Cami chirped happily her head never stopping it's motion and her eyes staying shut as she spoke, "Od name eh?" she finished with a laugh. Odran had almost begun to think of her as decent but she to just made fun of everything and so he let his gaze fall back to his transfiguration book. If it was the last thing he did he wouldn't be small for long. Odran was trying to stay focused on the book and only focused more when Amina let herself fall in the only seat left that was in between Nyssa and Odran. She gave him a amused glance before jumping head first into a conversation with her new "sister" and Odran tried his best to ignored being cramped in a cabin full of girls.
The girls chatted amongst each other for what seemed like hours before the sun finally set. Odran jerked awake to find his head had been resting the glass only when he did another person jerked off his shoulder as well. Odran looked to his right only to see Amina probably just as groggy and surprised as he looked. Even Nyssa looked a bit groggy and when Odran looked over at the other side of the cart it was easy to guess what had went on.
Cami had a hand over her mouth and Odran couldn't help but stare as her hairy was changing colors violently as she tried to keep from laughing out loud and once or twice Odran even thought he saw very unhuman ears pop out of her hair before her eyes popped open and she saw Odran shooting a glare her way and her hair shifted to a dark green and she looked away still trying to stifle her laughter. Had he not been so focused on Cami's hair he would have seen Lucy rolling her eyes and Rose trying to keep her laughter silent as well.
Amina sat up straight and stretched with a huge yawn letting her arms rest on the back of the seat she shared before she grimaced down at her robes with a upset look.
"You wrinkled my robes," she said in a voice Odran couldn't tell if she was joking or not before Amina's hand went to her hair and her grimace turned angry, "You even messed up my hair! You really are an ass," she finished with a pouty look as she tried to smooth her robes and fix her hair which got a good laugh out of the other girls but only at Odrans confused look.
"You need to get your robes on you four. We will be at Hogwarts within the hour," Remus said appearing at the door and grinning in an apologetic manner noticing Odran was the only male there, and he looked to Cami and Amina.
"You two can help them?" he asked glancing at the muggleborns with pleading look, "I have a lot to do before we arrive," he finished in a resigned tone.
"Sure sure," Cami said her hair turning back brown as she stood, "I'll go get the robes."
Cami disappeared down the hall and only then did Odran notice all who passed were in robes similar to Cami and Amina and there were many more people in the halls. Cami didn't take long to get the robes and Odran slipped in his ignore the slight chuckles from Cami.
"He's just as small as Cami and Nyssa," she said, "You three are soooooo cute," she finished with a small squeal but her eyes widened as Odran, Amina, and Nyssa all formed a united front for the first time with glares focused on Cami and Cami couldn't help but swallow loudly checking to see if her cloak was too tight.
"Now that that's over," Amina said in a clipped tone as she was rather sensitive about her height, "You four just stick with one of us and you should be fine."
"You can take the shorties," Cami said with a laugh grabbing Lucy's and Rose's hand and dashing out of the room her hair going rainbow again as she dragged the two girls behind her using them as a shield from the piercing glare coming from the three "shorties".
Odran didn't like being called shorty but noticed that the two girls were having problems with their robes being to big as well and he didn't want to be alone for whatever was going to happen so he reluctantly followed Nyssa who was following Amina without hesitation. They stepped off the train unto the platform and Odran immediately noticed the older students being led away.
"First years this way!" a loud voice shouted from behind them and Odran spun around to see the largest man he had ever seen shouted to the students. Though at first he looked a bit menacing his broad smile and waving motion disarmed him but he still backed up to try and escape the man's attention and to his surprise Nyssa was doing the same with wide eyes. Amina noticed them backing away and followed rolling her eyes.
"That's only Hagrid you two scardy cats," she said in a playful tone.
"But he was huge," Odran murmured as they were caught up in the flow of students again and Nyssa only nodded in agreement.
"Of course he is. He's half giant after all. You should see his brother. Made a big name for himself during the battle of Hogwarts, and then there was…." Amina went off into a tangent of some king at such high speeds Odran decided his best bet was to tone it out but Nyssa seemed to be able to understand as from time to time her head bobbed up and down with a wide range of expressions.
Odran soon realized they were coming up on a dock that had what seemed like hundreds of little boats lined up along it. Amina showed no hesitation like most of the students and jumped into one of the boats which Nyssa followed only hesitating long enough to make sure she wasn't going to land on Amina. Odran paused on the dock staring at the boat suspiciously. In nearly anything Odran was bold but there was one thing he was afraid of and that was water. He had never learned to swim as he was lucky if his parents fed him much less teach him anything.
"Hurry up or you'll end up in Hufflepuff," Amina said with a haughty laugh and Odran got down on his knees pulling the boat closer and carefully trying to get in the boat and Amina only sighed and grabbed him by the collar and yanked him safely in the boat. Odran sat up still looking at the water nervously.
Surprisingly someone jumped right into the boat making Odran grab ahold of the sides for life as it rocked slightly and the other girl sat oogling at Odran.
"You're the kid from Diagon Alley! You're so tiny though," Haley said scrunching up her nose at him and then Nyssa and Amina before she burst out laughing, "I….I.. I got on the boat of midgets," she gasped out hysterical with laughter only she remained oblivious of the glares from Amina and Nyssa but Odran was too busy trying to stay in the boat, which was in no real danger of leaving.
"Oi! Follow me everyone!" Hagrid yelled out and Amina casually started their boat on its way.
"What's wrong with Hufflepuff?" Nyssa spoke up and for the first time Odran was paying enough attention to his surroundings to hear them.
"They are like cheese puffs. They look pretty but no substance," Haley said with a laugh and the trio continued ignoring her.
"Well some people say it's for left overs but most of those are Slytherin. Cami's grandma was in Hufflepuff and became an Aurur and how can you call them left over," Amina said with a smug look as though that fact alone gave no room for argument.
"An Aurur?" Nyssa asked with a questioning look adjusting her scarf to cover more of her face as the night was becoming rather cold but luckily the sky was clear.
"Ummm…I don't know how to explain it in muggle terms," she said with a look over her shoulder to make sure she was still following Hagrid, "but it's really hard to be one. You have to have amazing grades. You protect people from dark wizards and stuff. I'm going to be an aurur one day," Amina said with a wicked grin.
"They are like the swat team of the wizarding world," Haley said casually and the shorties continued to ignore her though the two muggleborns did understand now.
"So what's Slytherin then," Odran asked trying to distract himself from the rocking of the boat that was damn near giving him a nervous breakdown.
"It's where all the people I am going to lock up go. The bad types that end up being dark wizards and such," Amina said dismissively and then continued with a slight shrug. Haley finally woke up to the testy short wizards behavior and just stayed quiet with a small smile.
"Ravenclaw is for book worms and Gryffindor is for me," Amina said shooting the two with another broad grin.
"So Gryffindor is for loud annoying girls who make fun of people?" Odran said through clenched teeth as his stomach was starting to do flips.
"Haha really funny," Amina said with narrowed eyes and a bored voice, "Gryffindor is where brave go like my grandfather," she said and had Odran been paying attention he would have caught a bit of fear in her voice. She had spent a full year praying she didn't end up in the same house as most of her father's family but she was worried because her mother had been in Slytherin. Her mother was actually a great person but she idolized her grandfather so she didn't want in the house he had hated.
Amina followed Hagrid into a cave that led underneath what Odran assumed was the castle but he was still focused on the water until they came to a small dock where he made a leap of faith until the dock and let out a sigh of relief when he touched the ground. There were a few laughs at his antics but most of them came from his boat and he swiftly got himself up his confidant expression back in place.
"Still haven't got your sea legs eh?" Amina said with a small chuckle hoping to the dock followed by Nyssa and Haley who they still had a silent agreement to ignore. Amina's head was twirling about probably looking for Cami Nyssa's hand in hers forcing her way through the crowd.
Odran soon found himself alone and though it made him a little nervous he went with the crowd. They were just coming to a set of stares when Mr. Muffin appeared wearing robes at the top of the stares with a uncharacteristically stern expression. He gave a short talk explaining something but Odran wasn't paying attention. Mr. Muffin disappeared and the students shifted up towards the door but Odran's robes caught on something and fell forward. Odran turned with a few good words from his father's vocabulary but stopped short of using them when he saw the culprit.
She stood up straight with a frown looking down at him. Her cloudy grey eyes stood out to him almost as much as her platinum blond hair and soft features. She reminded him of the boy who had come into his cart earlier even in the way she looked down at him but her eyes angled slightly in a fashion that gave her an exotic feel and her soft features were much different than the boys. He had been lost looking up at her when the very boy he had been comparing her to showed up out of nowhere grabbing Odran by the collar and punching him in the face.
"Don't look at my sister you mudblood trash!" Scorpius yelled angrily getting ready to punch again when he got a foot in the face. Odran's hand went to his face to discover he had a bloody lip but he was used to much more. What he wasn't used to was help and when he turned over to look up there stood a very angry Amina with her arms cross with a worried looking Cami behind her along with the rest of the muggleborns though they looked more nervous than anything.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Black!?" Scorpius roared scrambling back up with a bloody nose looking down on the little ball of fury that was Amina who didn't budge and inch, and Scorpius's sister stepping back with a worried expression. As soon as Scorpius's attention was off Odran Cami dragged him over to their group and yanked him up to a standing position.
"Opps I didn't see your face there," Amina said in a calm voice before she smiled and pointed to Mr. Muffin who had just returned.
"Come now it's time for the sorting," he said with his unusual business like tone that made most of the students swallow loudly but Scorpius was only staring daggers at Amina and Odran was stealing side long glances at Scorpius's sister. One thing was clear…This would not end well.