The Year of Thestrals

by acciodublestuff

Seven years have passed since the Battle of Hogwarts. Four unique students enter Hogwarts as first-years: the curious Rapunzel, the inventive Hiccup, the adventurous Merida, and the mischievous Jack. Sorted into different Houses, it seems unlikely that these four would ever become friends. Yet, despite adversity from all sides, they manage to always end up eating lunch together.

5. Chapter 5

The good-byes at Platform 9 and ¾ and the journey on the Hogwarts Express are stories oft told and generally of little significance, my dear reader, and so for the sole intent of not wanting to bore you with details of the tears shed and the farewells given, your humble narrator shall only present to you two events:

The first, and perhaps the slightly more significant of the two, was Jack and Merida's first encounter. For the first years on the train to Hogwarts, there is much anxiety as to whom they shall spend the first hours of their Hogwarts adventure with. Merida, who had never really had friends, was utterly petrified. But only inwardly; outwardly, Merida held her head up high and looked into each compartment for an open seat. She was hesitating in the doorway of a completely empty compartment when she was knocked into by someone behind her. Turning around, Merida caught a glance of a white-haired boy laughing and chasing a Snitch down the corridor. She scowled, returned to the empty compartment and sat down.

The second event was arbitrary for the most part, and Hiccup and Rapunzel certainly did not see it at the time as a foreshadowing of their future friendship. Rapunzel was not particularly physically fit, and when attempting to lift her trunk onto the train, she had quite a bit of trouble. A brown-haired boy (our chivalrous Hiccup) came up to her and asked if she wanted some assistance. She smiled and responded that she would be most glad for some help. With hardly any trouble on Hiccup's part and quite a bit on Rapunzel's, they lifted the trunk up and into the train. Rapunzel thanked Hiccup, and with a parting smile, headed down the corridor, looking for a compartment. They had not exchanged names, nor even knew that they were in the same year, yet a spark had been lit, a spark that would grow into the flame of their long-lasting friendship.