Chapter 5

Change

The rest of the summer holidays passed by in a flash. It included numerous Quidditch matches in the backyard (including me knocking Iris off her broom), several sleepless nights at Cheyenne's (we actually both didn't sleep; this was no due to my nervousness), and irksome gossip sessions with my sisters (who kept pestering me about Seamus.) When the day of September 1st finally came, I found I was somewhat glad and sad at the same time.

We arrived at King's Cross at 10:30, half an hour before the train's scheduled departure. It was no different then last year, the station packed with muggles. Alicon, Iris, and I rolled our trolley's through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Platform 9 ¾ was buzzing with magic as owls hooted and toads croaked impatiently from their confined spaces. I glanced around, looking for a familiar face. Rather, in truth I was looking for a sign of Seamus. I didn't spot him. I turned to Mum with a sigh. She picked up on the look on my face, though didn't say anything about it.

"Come on dear, I'll help you get your things on the train," Mum told me and together we loaded my trunks onto the train. I headed back to Dad and my sister, who had done the same.

"Well," Dad said, this is it," the way he said it made me sad. This really was it; the day I had been dreading. I would be away, far from home, from everything I had ever known. And away from Vanna. I let out a sob.

"Oh Katerina," Vanna hugged me, "don't cry,"

I couldn't help it. The tears fell.

"Don't worry. It'll all be ok!"

"It's so hard though, leaving you and Mum and Dad,"

"You won't be alone," Vanna reminded me.

"Yeah, you've got us to watch over you, squirt," Iris came up to me. Alicon knelt down beside me.

"It'll all be ok, Katerina. I was just was scared as you were when I first left home. And when I felt, I was by myself for three years! You'll be fine," She gave me a hug, "If it makes you feel better, Dad literally had o push me on the train at the last minute because I wouldn't let go of him,"

I grimaced.

"Plus, you already have Cheyenne there and you'll make so many more friends!" Iris added. I nodded.

"Well, best be getting on the train, ladies. It leaved in five minutes," said Dad. I sighed and turned back to Vanna.

"You be careful, alright?" I warned her.

"I'm old enough to take care of myself," Vanna answered, "Don't worry about me,"

I smiled and hugged her, "see you at Christmas. I'll write as soon as I can!"

I bade Dad goodbye and came to Mum.

"I'll miss you honey," she hugged me.

"Mum," I started, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course dear,"

I beckoned for her to kneel down next to me.

"What do I do about Seamus?" I whispered in her ear. It had been bothering me, and there was no way I could ask my sisters for advice.

"Just be yourself," Mum said, "be you,"

"But what if he doesn't like me?"

"There will be tons of boys there at Hogwarts, trust me on that and someday, when you're older, you will find the right one," She smiled up at my father, "but for now, you worry about school," she told me. I rolled my eyes.

"Fine,"

I followed my sisters onto the train and leaned out the window.

"Have a great year, Katerina," Dad wished me, 'write to us as soon as you can to tell us which house you've been sorted into and how Hogwarts is,"

"I will," I promised.

"And you girls take care of your sister," Mum told Alicon and Iris.

"We heard you Mum," Alicon sighed. The train whistled.

Alright girls, see you at Christmas!" Mum exclaimed as the train jolted.

"Be good!" Dad warned with a chuckle.

"As always," Alicon grinned. The train started moving forward.

"Bye girls!" Mum and Dad called.

"Bye!" I yelled as the train left the platform.

As King's Cross faded away, I turned o my sisters.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Um, Romilda told me to meet her up at the front of the train," Iris told me.

"Oh,"

"And Patricia has a compartment somewhere," Alicon told me, "but if you want to come, you can,"

"It's alright," I said. I could tell that they both didn't really want me tagging along, "Cheyenne's somewhere. I'm sure I'll find her,"

"Ok. Well if you need anything, you know where to find us," Iris smiled. She disappeared towards the front of the train.

"You sure you're alright?" Alicon asked.

"Yes, I'm sure!" I exclaimed, slightly getting annoyed.

"Alright," she replied, "I'll come check on you later," She hurried off to find her friend.

I looked down the line of never-ending compartments and started my search for Cheyenne. I headed towards the back of the train, passing compartments filled with older students, most gossiping, others playing the odd game of Exploding Snap. Suddenly, my heart stopped.

It was him.

He was in a compartment with a rather pudgy boy and a dark skinned one. They were laughing uncontrollably. I ducked past to the other side of the door and they didn't notice me. Do I say hi? I thought. I wanted to, but thought oh his friends. Fraternizing with first years. I smirked, thinking all of the jokes they would make of him. And the last thing I wanted was to embarrass him. I'll say hi later, I decided.

"Katerina!" Cheyenne interrupted my thoughts.

"Cheyenne!" I hugged her, trying to hide how startled I was by her interruption, "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Me too!" She let go of me with a look of pondering on her face.

"What?"

"Why are you glued to that wall?" She asked, "You look like you're spying on someone," Indeed, she was right. I was glued in between the compartments, but I wasn't about to tell her anything.

"Am not!"

"Are too!" she stole a look over my head into the compartment next to us, "Which one's Seamus?"

"oh alright. He's the sandy haired one,"

She surveyed him, nodding in approval, "He's cute,"

I blushed, nodding, "yeah,"

"Are you going to talk to him?"

"No way!" I said, "He's with his friends now and I have all year anyways,"

"Don't be shy!" Cheyenne chided.

"I'm not shy!"

"Then talk to him!"

"I will! Tonight at dinner,"

Cheyenne settled, "Fine, but anyways, I met some other first years!'" She started down the aisle, beckoning me to follow. We stopped at the last compartment and Cheyenne pulled it open. Three girls and two boys sat there.

"Hey!" Cheyenne greeted them, "I found her!"

"About time," one of the boys said. He was Asian, his jet black hair slightly falling into his eyes, "we've all been wondering who the mysterious Katerina is,"

I blushed, "well that's me,"

"Alan Lung," he extended his hand. He turned to the other boy.

"Patrick Retz," he followed the gesture.

The girls introduced themselves.

"Allegra Estovic," the blue eyed girl with curly blonde hair said.

"Wilhelmina Dodd. Call me Mina," the girl with straight brown hair grinned.

"Lisa Goyle," the last girl with shiny black hair and green eyes grinned.

"Nice to meet you all," I smiled, taking the seat next to Alan.

"Whoa, what are those?" Mina gestured. I looked out the window to see the snack trolley in the aisle.

"What's what?"

"The long things!" She got up and pointed to the licorice wands.

"You've never seen a licorice wand?" Patrick asked in sock.

"No," Mina blushed, "I'm muggle born,"

"then we have to get you some!" Alan jumped up and went to the trolley, coming back with a mountain full of sweets in his arms. I bought some chocolate frogs and a package of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

"Don't try those," I warned Mina as she aimed to place a yellow colored bean in her mouth.

"Why not?"

"It could be earwax of troll bogeys," Cheyenne stated matter of factly.

"Trolls?" Mina exclaimed.

"Yes," Lisa confirmed, "there was one that invaded the dungeons four years ago. My brother saw it!"

"Who's your brother?" I asked, wondering if he knew Alicon.

"Gregory Goyle, Slytherin. It was awful, cuz the Slytherin common room is down there,"

"So I suppose you'll be rooting for Slytherin then?" Allegra asked. Lisa shrugged.

"I don't know. Yes and know. Yes because my family has been in Slytherin for centuries and Greg's in it. No because there's just a lot of bad things that have come out of Slytherin,"

"Like what?" Mina asked.

"There isn't a witch or wizard who's gone bad who wasn't in Slytherin," Alan said darkly.

"There are bad-?" Mina choked, looking frightened. We all nodded.

"But not to worry!" Alan brightened, "they've all been caught. Anyways my brother and cousin are in Ravenclaw so three guesses which house I'll be in,"

"Me too!" I added, "my mum was a Ravenclaw, so I'm sure that's where I want to be!"

"Wherever she goes, I go," Cheyenne grinned.

"I have no idea where I'll be," Allegra sighed, "my family has literally been all over the place. Mummy was in Hufflepuff, Dad in Ravenclaw. My aunt was a Gryffindor, I have cousins in Slytherin, my brother's in Hufflepuff, and so I could be anywhere!"

"I've always though of myself as brave," Patrick said, "so I'm leaning towards Gryffindor. Though Ravenclaw wouldn't be bad wither,"

"Well I'm sure that wherever we end up, we'll still have classes together, right?" I asked.

"Of course!" Alan exclaimed, "so it doesn't matter anyway!"

My friends nodded in agreement and I felt content knowing that houses wouldn't change anything. I could already tell that this first year was going to be better then I had expected.