Chapter 5

Standing nervously at King's Cross station was a completely different girl than she had been on her birthday. Her black-coffee curls were glossy instead of dusty now, hanging neatly to her hips. She had now-clean, clear ivory skin, bird shoulders, and slender fingers, all clothed in a neat coat. She had put on a little weight around her hips and breasts, though still gave the impression of something impossibly ethereal, delicate and fragile. She was, quite simply, beautiful.

I fiddled with the collar of my coat, the coal-black wool slipping in and out of my fingers. The sapphire necklace glimmered from beneath the collar. Uncle stood next to me, his hand on my shoulder. "You're ready for this?"

"'Course I am."

"You could still get private tutelage."

"Uncle, I went to Salem Witches Academy. Boarding school is nothing new to me."

"Alright." He stared at the expanse of brick that was platform 9 ¾. Fion chirped in her cage, a curious little noise like a gasp. "Well, let's go."

I steeled myself for impact as he steered me towards the brick wall. He kept telling me that we would just pass through it, but the brick and mortar looked terribly solid to me. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Within seconds, the sound changed. I heard the screeches of owls, the squeals or rats and small children. Opening my eyes, I saw a scarlet steam engine, Hogwarts Express emblazoned on the front. A swinging sign above my head read Platform 9 ¾. I grinned sticking a finger through Fion's cage to tickle her head.

Uncle placed his hands on my shoulders. "Let me look at you, Jack." I complied, and he cocked his head. "You don't look like either of them on the whole, but there are little bits of them in you. Your mother's forehead, your father's eyes." He was silent for a while, and then pulled me into an embrace. "I am very proud of you, Jack."

I smiled into his shoulder, hugging him back. We broke apart, and I kept looking back over my shoulder as I boarded the train. Upon finding an empty compartment, I opened the window to see if I could see him. I nearly broke my arm off waving, until he and the platform were out of sight.

I sank back into my seat, picking Fion's cage off the floor. I opened it, letting her hop out and flutter around the ceiling of the compartment. I was unwrapping a chocolate bar when the compartment door rattled open.

I made a grab at Fion as she curiously tried to investigate it. "Owl's getting loose!" I called. The voices on the other side cursed as the bird battered around their heads. I managed to wave her back into the compartment, where she reluctantly hopped back into her cage. "I am so sorry; I didn't realize she'd try to get out." I apologized hurriedly, latching the cage.

The people on the other side of the door looked at me curiously. "I don't recognize her," said the surly-looking boy on the side.

"Shut up, Goyle." said the tall boy in the middle. He had a pointed face, white-blond hair, and pale eyes. He advanced towards me, holding out his hand in a lofty sort of way. "Draco Malfoy." He had a dirty sort of elegance about him, with cold eyes and smooth blond hair.

"Jack Harcourt. Well, Jessica Harcourt. But I don't respond to that." I said, taking the proffered hand. "I went to Salem Witches' Academy before. I transferred." And it was true- turns out there was no exchange program. Uncle was just making the change more gradual. "Pleasure to meet you."

The boy raised his eyebrows. Maybe he recognized the name. "This is the prefects' compartment," he cocked his head to one side, raising his eyebrow. I felt heat flushing my cheeks. Why did I have to make a mistake on my first day?

"Oh, I didn't realize-"I motioned to leave, grabbing Fion's cage.

"Wait." The Malfoy boy was looking at me strangely. "What did you say your name was again?"

"Jack Harcourt."

He turned to his friends, who looked more like bodyguards, behind him. "Why is that familiar?" He seemed irritated.

A tall black boy with slanted eyes pushed his way towards the front. Somehow, I really doubted all of these people were prefects, even though they were in the compartment. "Don't know, it's familiar to me too."

I was starting to get a little irritated by now. Did they want me to leave, or stay? "Hey, are you pureblood?" asked Draco.

"Um, yes."

"Who's your family? I think I know you."

I wasn't sure exactly what to say. Just bursting out with the princess thing seemed silly. "My parents were Edmund and Rhoswen Harcourt. They've been long dead, though. I doubt you ever met them."

Draco and the dark kid seemed deep in thought, but the one called Goyle, who looked rather like an ape, his mouth dropped open. Draco looked up at him, snapping, "Goyle, shut your gob. What?"

"King Edmund?"

"Honestly, Goyle, have you actually been paying attention in History of Magic?" Draco seemed shocked at this, but then Goyle's words sank in. "So, was your father the King, or did he just share the name?" He was trying to sound aloof, I could tell. This was going to be uncomfortable.

"Yes, he was King Edmund."

The dark kid smiled knowingly, taking my hand and bowing. "Pleasure to meet you, Princess."

I raised my eyebrows. "I will jinx the next person to call me Princess. My name is Jack." The smile slipped from his face, but Draco smarmed up next to me. I learned that he was a pure-blood, disliked Muggle-borns, was a skilled Quidditch player and belonged to one of the oldest and most wealthy Wizarding families in Britain. None of this was actually spoken to me; he seemed to be having a conversation with the other boy, Blaise, intended to make him look good without actually bragging to me himself. It would have worked if I in any way cared about blood status or wealth, but I was raised not to really care about those. I resorted to toying with my necklace and listening. The thing that interested me, however, was Quidditch.

"You're a seeker?" I interrupted when he mentioned it. He looked pleased.

"Yeah, Slytherin seeker. We're all in Slytherin."

"Huh. I was chaser for one of the teams back at Salem. Damn good, if I do say so myself."

"What sort of broom have you got?"

"Cleansweep Eleven. You?"

"Nimbus 2001. What team do you support?"

"Boston Falcons."

I was interested until the conversation turned back to Hogwarts, so I couldn't partake.

"What are the houses at Hogwarts, again?"

Blaise informed me that the Slytherins were the ambitious ones, Ravenclaws the ones that thirsted for knowledge, Gryffindors the brave ones, and Hufflepuffs the dedicated ones. Draco explained that the Slytherins were the smart ones, Ravenclaws the uppity little bastards, Gryffindors self-righteous pricks and the Hufflepuffs the stupid rejects no other house would take. I didn't know what house I would end up in. I'd probably end up in Hufflepuff.

The boys exited the compartment while I changed into my robes. I buttoned up my shirt and shrugged on the black robes. The train slowly screeched to a stop.