"Aenegael! Wake up!" cried Laurel, jumping onto Andi's bed and scaring Davey. Davey hissed and jumped onto the floor.
"Laurel, it's early still," muttered Andi. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her little sister was still bouncing on her bed.
"You're going to spend the whole morning with me! There is no way I am letting you waste a single moment of our last morning together!" cried Laurel, throwing herself at Andi.
"I'll be back for Christmas," she muttered, burying her head under the pillow. Though she had been exchanging "owls" with the Weasley twins since Diagon Alley, she still had reservations about the so-called "Wizard school."
"Come on! I've already pulled your robes out, so that way you won't have to change on the train with strangers. Or the Weasleys. Not that you'd mind…" Aenegael sighed and got out of bed, throwing her pillow at Laurel. Her sister was just going to make more bad jokes to hide the fact that she was scared for Andi to leave.
"Alright, alright. I'll meet you in the WC after I'm dressed," she said, stretching. Laurel smiled happily and bounded out of the room. Andi shrugged her pyjamas off and slipped on her Hogwarts uniform. She hadn't a tie or a sweater yet as she had yet to be sorted, so she pulled on the skirt, socks, and blouse, whilst throwing her robes over the banister as she entered the hallway. She walked into the bathroom and obediently sat down on the edge of the bathtub.
"I'm going to do it pretty today," said Laurel. Andi smiled at her little sister. She loved doing Andi's hair, mostly because it was longer than her own.
Laurel's small fingers worked through Aenegael's long black hair, pulling it out of the damp braid it had been clumsily thrown into the night before when Andi had come out of the shower. She worked in some fine smelling hair-smoothing product, and began her work. Andi's mother had been teaching her spells so that she would be just as good as the other kids at school. She even got special permission from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement so that Andi could do magic outside of Hogwarts. She pulled out her wand and murmured, "Accio Quidditch Through the Ages."
The book came floating into the bathroom and Aenegael began to read, as her sister continued to work her hair into a series of braids that wrapped around her head. Andi had read every book there was on Quidditch. To be honest, other than Fred and George, it was the only thing she was looking forward to about Hogwarts. Her mam and dad let her watch Quidditch, and even smuggled her to a game once (The Holyhead Harpies against the Kenmare Kestrels!), but they never let her use a broom for fear of reprocussions from the Ministry because she hadn't received a Hogwarts letter. Though she had read everything she could about Quidditch, Quidditch Through the Ages, remained her favourite tome.
"There you are," said Laurel. Andi smiled at her reflection. Her little sister's braids weren't complicated, but they were neat and pinned nicely. Laurel knew that Andi preferred to have her hair up off of her neck, and though Aenegael could have done her hair herself, she knew how much pride her sister took in doing it.
"Thanks Laurel," she said, hugging her sister.
"No problem," Laurel replied, leaving Andi alone in the loo. She glanced at her reflection again. She decided to put on a little bit of makeup to mark the occasion. She didn't wear any on normal days, but her first day at wizard school seemed like something important. She only had a little bit left in the bathroom as she had packed her favourite things in her school trunk. She fed the goldfish (Dara) who lived on the counter, did her eyeliner, finished her business, and wandered down to what would be her last breakfast with her family before Hogwarts.
"Andi, don't forget to owl us. We're sending Derval along with you, here take him if you can. He'll know how to bring letters home when you need him to. Your father and I don't need to send letters via owl very often, so don't worry about us. Oh, I'm going to miss you!" Andi's mother gabbed, setting Derval on top of Aenegael's cart.
"I'll miss you too mam," she replied. Laurel was plastered to her side in a tight embrace.
"Look at the train," whispered Laurel as Andi bent down to accommodate her height.
"I know. I'm sure you'll be able to go next year. And that means you get seven years there!" said Aenegael. Laurel bit her lip.
"I know it's not ideal. But next year we'll be there together! And I'll send you lots of letters about how nice it is," she continued.
"Are you happier about going now?" asked Laurel. Aenegael nodded earnestly and Laurel seemed satisfied.
"Now Laurel, let your sister get her things onto the train. Don't forget I've got your Hogsmeade form in your robe pocket. If you lose it I'll send another one," said her father. Aenegael hugged her dad and pulled away before Davey got squashed.
She got herself loaded onto the train. She was on the platform very early and found an empty carriage. She stowed her trunk and hung herself out the window for a final goodbye to her family.
"Love you guys! Don't forget to feed Dara, Laurel!" she called. Laurel nodded profusely and though she was far away, Andi could see the tears starting to form in her little sister's eyes. She pulled herself back into the carriage before she had to witness her sister crying. While she had begun to feel excited about Hogwarts, she had never been away from Laurel for more than a week. They were close, even though she was older by six years.
"Hey, look who I found George," said Fred, bustling into the carriage. George smiled.
"If it isn't our favourite Irish girl, Abigail Haggerty," he replied. Fred elbowed him as he stowed their trunks.
"It's Annie-hail, George, get her name right," Fred said, pretending to be angry with his brother. Aenegael laughed as the twins pretended to mess up her name.
"George, Fred, what's good?" said a dark haired boy, entering the carriage and throwing his trunk up on the rack.
"Oi, careful there! You almost hit Derval!" said Andi, rushing to comfort the flustered barn owl.
"Andi, do all your pets have 'D' names?" asked Fred. Aenegael nodded.
"It's a wonder that my sister and I don't," she replied. "There's Dara, our goldfish, Derval the owl, Devon (my mam's cat), and then Davey who's mine." Andi stroked the cat and let him out of her coat. As George sat down on the seat next to her, Davey jumped into his lap and made himself quite at home.
"And what's your name, love?" asked the boy who'd scared her owl. Andi looked at him sideways, not quite forgiving him for frightening Derval, before she clasped his extended hand.
"I'm Aenegael Haggerty, but you can call me Andi," she said.
"Lee Jordan," replied the boy, sitting down across from her. "How come I've never seen you around?" Andi sighed. Did she have to explain herself to everyone?
After a brief, condensed version of her story, Lee launched into talks about the upcoming Quidditch year, and things he wanted to say while announcing. Andi took a double take.
"Wait, you're the friend of George and Fred's who does all the commentating during inter-house matches?" she asked. Lee smiled, proud that she'd heard of him.
"Well, I am pretty good at it. Especially when it comes to certain plays made by–" Lee paused as two girls entered the already cramped compartment.
"Angelina!" said Lee, using a tone that one's mother wouldn't want to hear. A tall girl with her hair in braids rolled her eyes at Lee.
"Hey, where's Alicia?" asked Fred. Angelina and her friend both looked at the floor.
"We were going to tell you earlier–" Angelina was cut off by her friend.
"I thought you already knew–" George, exasperated, yelled:
"Get out with it Katie!" Katie sat down on the other side of Lee, staring pointedly at her feet.
"Alicia is going to Ilvermorny this year. She'll be back next year, but she's staying with her Uncle and Aunt in America," she said quietly. The three boys were in an uproar when someone else entered the compartment.
"Oi, what's all this about then? I'll not have you all expelled before we've even started the season! Get with it you lot!" he said. "After the Quidditch Cup is ours, you're all free to yell as you please."
"Alicia isn't at Hogwarts this year," said Angelina. The boy in the doorway let out an anguished cry.
"Do I really have to find another chaser? I had all of our plays lined up, all based on individual strengths and weaknesses!" he said, squeezing in beside George. Andi glanced out the window. The train had long ago left King's Cross and they were moving through the countryside. She wondered how long it would be until she got to Hogwarts, because if people kept cramming themselves into the compartment, she was going to suffocate.
After a long discussion on the merits of various people in Gryffindor who could replace Alicia Spinnet, the boy who had come into the compartment last, finally took notice of Aenegael.
"What's your name?" he asked her. Andi was about to open her mouth when Fred, George, and Lee answered for her.
"That's Andi Haggerty." Andi smiled at him over Lee and George. The train hit a bump in the tracks and Andi finally popped out of her tiny space beside the window and into Lee's lap.
"Alright, no need for you Angelina, looks like Andi here has me covered," he laughed. Andi blushed, but found that there was nowhere else to sit. Derval's cage was on the floor along with two other owls who belonged to Lee and Katie respectfully, and Davey had long since vacated George's lap in favour of the coat that was balled up on the ground beside the owls. All of the seats were already filled beyond capacity.
"You can stay where you are. Don't worry about it," said Lee kindly. Andi shifted herself and got comfortable.
"You play Quidditch, Andi?" asked Oliver.
"I love Quidditch nearly as much as football, but I've never even sat on a broom before. I'm thinking that this year will be my chance to finally have a go at it," she replied. Oliver nodded, realizing that she wore the black tie of people who hadn't been sorted.
"So you have not been to Hogwarts?" he asked her. Andi shook her head.
"Then maybe we can make a chaser out of her yet, depending on what house you end up in," said Katie.
"Don't get your hopes up yet Katie, I've got her pegged as a Ravenclaw," said George. Fred shook his head.
"No way, she's got to be a Hufflepuff. All she talks about in her letters is her little sister Laurel!" he shot back. Andi kicked him.
"I told you about lots of things!" she said.
"Maybe a Slytherin…" he muttered.
"I heard that!" Andi said venomously. Lee laughed underneath her, and put his arms around her.
"I think she's a Gryffindor for sure!" he said.
"Anyone in here want some sweets?" asked a witch as she pushed her trolley down the corridor. There was a ruckus as everyone scrambled to buy some candies.
Oliver bought some sugar mice, while Fred and George had enough between them to share a few chocolate frogs. Angelina and Katie got a bag of Pepper Imps and Lee purchased a sugar quill. Andi was left in front of the trolley as she tried to decide what to get.
"Do you have any recommendations?" she asked her friends.
"Haven't you had wizard candies before?" asked George. Andi shook her head.
"No. Well, I have, but only one kind. Laurel and I get a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans to share at Christmas, but other than that…" she trailed off.
"Get some pumpkin pastilles and then we'll all share with you," said Angelina. Andi did as she suggested and bought the pastilles. They were good, but not as good as the tip of the sugar quill that Lee had given her. Angelina and Katie gave her a Pepper Imp and Oliver gave her a sugar mouse. George passed her a squirming chocolate frog. It escaped his grasp and began to hop around the compartment, much to everyone's amusement. Davey pounced on it and happily dropped it at Aenegael's feet. She managed to catch it and get it in her mouth. It was good. She passed her bag of pastilles around until everyone was full.
"Wait until you try butterbeer. It's wonderful," said Fred as Aenegael thanked everyone for sharing their sweets. She went to sit down but once again found that there was nowhere to go.
"C'mere," Fred muttered, pulling her into his lap. She smiled, happy that she had made new friends.
The rest of the train journey passed with conversations ranging from Quidditch and Football (Katie was a half-blood whose mother adored Chelsea, while Andi was a passionate Man United fan) to Hogsmeade stores and the Weasley twins' experimental joke products. As the train began to slow, Andi glanced out the window. For the first time, she saw the great castle that was to be her school for the next two years: Hogwarts.
Thanks again for reading the second chapter! I won't make any super long author's notes today, but I just wanted to ask what people thought. The next chapter will be the sorting, Hogwarts, etc. Can you guess where she'll end up?
Have fun reading/writing and thanks for taking the time to glance at my fic!
~Kit~