On her way back, Evie poked her head into a few compartments before finally finding the one occupied by her three favorite red heads.
"Bonjour, Prewetts." She said as she strode in and sat down next to her friend Gideon. Evie was among only four people who could tell Fabian and Gideon apart, along with James, their dad, and their younger sister Matilda, who usually went by name Tilly. The twins were tall and lanky, with freckles and dark red hair, going into their third year at Hogwarts. They looked completely identical to anyone who hadn't noticed the small freckle on Fabian's left ear that was absent on Gideon's. Not even their mother or their older sister Molly could tell them apart.
"Hello, Evie. Good holiday?" asked Fabian who was sitting next to the Prewett's younger sister Tilly, also eleven and also Evie's other best friend. Tilly was a bit paler than her brothers, with not as many freckles. Whereas her brothers had light blue eyes, her were more turquoise. And rather than have deep dark red hair like her siblings, Tilly had light orange-red hair. She was very much the odd one out, along with being the baby and most sarcastic.
"You would know. I've only seen you every week this summer." Said Evie sarcastically.
"Well a lot can change in the span of two days, dear one." Said Gideon.
"Ignore them. They've been like this all morning. They think they've got a shot at being chasers on the Gryffindor team." Said Tilly rolling her eyes.
"Oh hush, Tilly," said Fabian, "You know what Auntie Muriel says."
"If you're sarcastic to your elders-"
"-You'll get spattergroit and fangs-"
"-And end up an old spinster-"
"-With body parts that hang." Said the twins.
"Yes, and Auntie Muriel knows this first hand." Muttered Tilly. The twins smirked.
"Be a doll will you?" said Gideon to Evie.
"We've got a couple of friends of the opposite gender who will be stopping by for a visit any second." Said Fabian to Evie.
"Pessimistic little sisters aren't exactly an aphrodisiac." Finished the twins with pleading eyes.
"Fine, but answer me one thing," the twins leaned in waiting, "Where do babies come from?"
They looked between each other with horrified looks on their identical faces, clearly missing the smirk on their sister's face as she knew what her best friend was up to.
"Well…Evie…"
"You see…"
"When a witch and a wizard love each other-"
"Sometimes they…erm…they express that love by-"
"Oi! I was only joking!" laughed Evie, "Tilly and I will get lost. Carry on with your knitting."
"Thanks for saving me. If you're doing anyone a favor it's me," said Tilly as they walked down the train, "I did not care to stick around and watch them snog the life out of some poor girls."
"I s'pose you owe me one then, Til." Laughed Evie.
"S'pose I do. Where's James?" asked Tilly.
"He's back in the compartment with this bloke that we met. He seems alright." Answered Evie.
"If you say so." Said Tilly in an indifferent tone.
"How's Molly? Still hopefully in love with Arthur Weasley?" asked Evie.
"It's worse than that. I told you we couldn't come over yesterday to play Quidditch but I didn't tell you why." Said Tilly as she feigned disinterest.
"Well?" asked Evie after a few seconds.
"Molly and Arthur eloped. You should've seen my parents. They were furious. Not because of Arthur. I mean Arthur's a nice bloke. Easy enough to get along with at any rate, even if he's got limited goals. They just weren't pleased about the lack of ceremony." Answered Tilly.
"Wow…I can't believe that Molly, your sister, 'Never-kiss-on-the-first-date, Big-June-wedding type, Molly got eloped." Said Evie perplexedly.
"Came as a shock to us all." Muttered Tilly. Evie knew that Molly getting married in secret and without her there was hurting Tilly more than she would let on, but she wouldn't push it. Tilly never had been the expressive type, unless that expression be angry or explosive. When they got back to the compartment James and Sirius were already in their robes, feasting on a sizeable amount of assorted sweets.
"The trolley came by? Hell I wanted to get some sweets." Said Evie as she and Tilly plopped down on the seat across from the boys. James tossed Tilly and Evie a couple of acid pops and chocolate frogs.
"Thought you might say that." He said nonchalantly.
"Aw, Jamesie, you do take care of me." Said Evie in a sarcastically sugary voice.
"I haven't met you." Said Tilly to Sirius. Tilly was never one for subtlety.
"Sirius Black." Answered Sirius after popping what appeared to be an undesirably flavored every flavor bean in his mouth.
"Matilda Prewett." Said Tilly evenly.
"You don't say much do you?" said Sirius in a slightly pompous tone.
"Not unless I find you interesting." Said Tilly, turning away from Sirius. James started half laughing half choking at Tilly's comment as he swallowed an ice mice too soon.
The rest of the journey went by with a lot of chatter and laughs. James and Evie were getting on very well with Sirius while Tilly at least tolerated him. Evie would occasionally catch Sirius's eye and vice versa. James it appeared noticed nothing, Tilly, however, was not as unobservant as her friend. The train came to a stop as the sky had darkened over the station. The four of them stepped onto the platform looking around for any indication as to where they were supposed to go.
"Firs' years this way! Firs' years over 'ere!" shouted a loud, gruff voice over the buzz of the platform. The man rounding up the first years, Evie and her friends noticed, was enormous compared to a normal sized man. Evie would have been surprised to have reached his thigh.
"Bet he's a half giant or something." Said James as they approached the man beckoning to them.
"H'lo. I'm Rubeus Hagrid. Now tha' it looks like everyone is her' we'll be headin' off to the boats." He said leading them to the docks on the other side of the platform. They fit four to a boat comfortably. Hagrid led the way as boat after boat full of first years followed. Tilly held the lantern in their boat as they approached the most glorious sight any one of them had ever seen. Hogwarts castle was illuminated majestically by hundreds of twinkling lights as it towered over them.
"Wow." Said James breathlessly.
"You can say that again, mate." Grinned Sirius.
"Oi, Evie. You think if I provoke it, the giant squid will come out?" asked James with a goofy grin.
"Try it and I'll hex you into Snivellus's boat." She said pointedly. If possible the entrance hall was almost as breathtaking as the view of the castle. Almost. A slim witch in green robes and a feathered pointed hat was waiting for them at the top of the stairs.
"Good evening. My name is Professor McGonagall. I am Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and the Transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts. The sorting ceremony will commence once you pass through those doors," Evie noticed Lily further down the steps looking down as Severus muttered something in her ear, "I will place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your corresponding houses. Now, welcome to Hogwarts."
The doors opened a moment later. Professor McGonagall led them through the Great Hall, down the long benches that were lined with students. Evie saw her cousin Felissity sitting at the Hufflepuff table, flashing a reassuring smile. Evie smiled back then looked over at the Gryffindor table. Fabian and Gideon were making faces at her, James, and Tilly, and only stopped when Professor McGonagall shot them a reproachful look. The group of first years stopped in front of the steps leading to the sorting hat. Evie looked at James for reassurance, her confidence faltering for only a second before he gave her an encouraging smile.
"No fear, Evie." He said giving her a pat on the back. She smiled at him and turned when she noticed Sirius looking at her.
"Gryffindor, then?" he asked her.
"Anywhere else just won't do." She smiled.
"Aubrey, Bertram!" shouted Professor McGonagall. A small blonde boy walked up to the hat and sat down. A moment later the hat placed him in Hufflepuff. After the cheers from the Hufflepuff table died down Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Avery, Hoyt!" The hat didn't need to touch the boy's head for long before he was placed in Slytherin.
"Bagman, Otto!" A plump boy with thin brown hair marched up a second later. The hat placed him in Hufflepuff along with the first boy.
"Barnaby, Georgina!" A pale girl with long dark hair walked up to the hat. She, too, was placed in Hufflepuff.
"At this rate we'll all be in Hufflepuff." Muttered Tilly.
"Black, Narcissa!" called Professor McGonagall. They watched as a blonde girl with pale pointed features, and an air of snobbery marched up to the hat.
"Isn't that the cousin you mentioned on the train?" asked Evie.
"Yup," said Sirius before she was placed in Slytherin, "See what I mean."
"Black, Sirius!"
"Good luck." Said Evie before Sirius walked up to the stand, not before giving her and James one last nervous smile. Sirius's sorting took a bit longer than the others had taken. Evie noticed his brow was furrowed for much of it. To everyone's surprise, no more than Sirius, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius beamed, looking into the mass of first years at James and Evie before taking his seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Bloxum, Evandra!" Evie looked back a James and Tilly before walking up to the stool and sitting down. She felt the old fabric of the hat slide down onto her head before she heard a voice go off.
"Quite the talented mind. Yes, characteristic of a Bloxum. Indeed. Though you possess the skill, you lack the patience of a Ravenclaw. The cunning of a Slytherin I see, but more concerned about the well being of other's than yourself. Kind enough for Hufflepuff, but a little too stubborn and self righteous. Courageous, too, yes very courageous. I've got just the place for you. GRYFFINDOR!" Evie smiled as she had never smiled before. She flashed James a quick grin before running over to the Gryffindor table and taking a seat next to Sirius.
"Looks like we made it in one piece." She commented as she slid in next to him. He smiled at her.
"I wasn't worried," she gave him a skeptical look, "Alright, I was a bit unnerved. But that's all you'll get out of me." Evie locked eyes with Gideon and Fabian, as both were making kissing noises at her and Sirius. She stealthily took her wand out and flicked it at them, tightening their ties as the twins gagged. She stuck out her tongue at them and looked back at Sirius who was cracking up and looking slightly impressed. It wouldn't be until Lily Evans was sorted that they'd get another Gryffindor. Evie noticed Lily's friend Severus cringe as she made her way to the table. She slid in across from Evie and Sirius, giving her a smile and him a scowl as she turned back to the sorting. Next to be sorted into Gryffindor was a slight boy with brown hair named Remus Lupin. He slid in next to Evie with a kind smile.
"Hello, I'm Evie Bloxum." She said kindly as she outstretched her hand.
"Remus Lupin. Pleasure to meet you." said Remus shyly.
"She prefers to Bollocks to Bloxum though." Chimed in Sirius.
"This is Sirius. You don't necessarily have to be nice to him." Said Evie throwing Sirius a look. Remus laughed as he shook Sirius's hand. Three more first years joined the Gryffindor table: Mary McDonald, Marlene McKinnon, and Tiberius McLaggen. Mary, a girl with frizzy brown hair and blue eyes, sat next to Lily throwing odd flirty looks at Sirius, who looked uncomfortable at the gesture. Marlene, a pretty girl with blonde hair and violet eyes, sat next to Remus and engaged in discussing Charms with him. McLaggen, a boy with short wavy brown hair and blue eyes, sat on the other side of Mary, making it obvious he wished to sit next to Lily. After them came a plump, mousy looking boy by the name of Peter Pettigrew. He slid in next to McLaggen at the end of their bench.
"James is up next!" Evie called to Fabian and Gideon. Sure enough, James being the smug bold little wanker he was didn't take long to be sorted at all. The hat skimmed his head before declaring him a Gryffindor. He ran over, goofy grin plastered on his face, and sat next to Marlene, flashing Evie and Sirius a thumbs up.
"Your mate's quite the ham." Noted Sirius.
"Takes one to know one, Mr. Black," said Evie pointedly. He smirked and looked back at the sorting, "Your friend's up next." Sure enough Tilly strode over to the hat slowly. She rolled her eyes quite a few times before the hat gave her the same verdict it had given James. Gideon and Fabian cheered louder than anyone else at the Gryffindor table. She sat next to James at the end of the table, throwing Evie a knowing look, which Evie took to interpret as Tilly saying she'd rather sit anywhere during the meal aside from directly across from the Pettigrew boy. After the sorting and feast had ended, Professor Dumbledore, the new Headmaster gave a few announcements before sending everyone up to bed. Evie was prepared for a long night of talking to Tilly, and possibly her new friend Lily. Everyone seemed nice enough, well, with the exceptions of Tiberius McLaggen's ego and Mary McDonald's weirdness. Evie knew not to doubt James, and in time, when his ego had deflated a bit, she would give him his due, as he had been correct in declaring their new lives an adventure.