You guys make me happy to keep writing this, even when I forget to save and have to rewrite half of it.
The Hogwarts term started on the 1st of September.
Between July 3rd and September 1st, Charlotte had seen her mother a total of three times and had not talked to her once. She honestly hadn't noticed until she asked Joan a question about a spell and her mother just shrugged and went back to sleep.
For the remainder of the summer, Doc, and very rarely Harry, were the only sentient beings she talked to. Charlotte was never much of a huge talker anyways, but it was her own mother that was ignoring her. Why?
The girl would get a headache just thinking about it. So she worked on the garden or read a book in the meantime, shutting herself away from the hurt.
Charlotte's August garden was filled with daisies, inspired my Mr. Dursley's humming of Daisy Bell as he sat out in his own backyard. It certainly wasn't a bad looking garden, and now that she had her wand, her magic tended to not make fire, but instead help her garden grow.
It was nice and Charlotte was sad to leave her little garden to wilt during the school year.
The third time she saw her mother, it was to take her to the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 and 3\4.
Joan simply put her hand on Charlotte's shoulder and guided her through the barrier, not coming through herself.
Her eyes stung with hot tears, finally feeling the pure rejection of her mother's actions. Soon enough, they spilled over and Charlotte wiped every single tear away as she got onto the train, bringing Doc along into the first empty compartment she could find. She locked the door for about five minutes to cry fully, wiping tears and a runny nose with her long sleeved button up plaid shirt. When both sleeves were damp with tears, Charlotte changed into her uniform.
As she pulled her robe on, she unlocked the compartment door so others could come in. Doc laid patiently in her lap as many students simply filtered through, not many even sparing a glance at the red eyed first year with a kneazle in her lap.
That is, until two other first year boys decided that there was nowhere else to sit except her compartment.
The first one to introduce himself was tall and skinny, with tanned skin and brown hair, "Hi, I'm Nathaniel McCoy, do you mind if we sit here? Everywhere else is full."
Charlotte shook her head and the two shuffled in, at least the other boy did. He was shorter than Nathaniel, and rounder. He had long black hair that hung in his pale face, but not greasy at all. Maybe a little dry actually.
Nathaniel continued to talk to Charlotte, "What's your name?"
"I'm," Charlotte paused, clearing her throat, "Charlotte Fletcher. Who is your friend?"
Nathaniel looked at his friend, who was still very quiet, "This is my best friend, Shane Wright."
Shane finally looked up far enough for Charlotte to make eye contact with him. He had very light blue eyes. The eye contact only lasted a moment as he suddenly looked back down to his hands.
"He's a bit shy, he is. So where are you from, you're accent definitely isn't from Britain, America?"
"Yeah, I'm from the Midwest. Illinois, mostly. We moved around the state for awhile..."
The two chatted on about the States until Shane finally said something that Charlotte didn't catch.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"Why are you coming to Hogwarts if you're from America?" his voice was very soft. A little high too.
"Oh, my mom decided to come back to work with my grandfather."
Shane asked on, "Who's your grandfather?"
"Garrick Ollivander, he owns a wand shop."
Nathaniel's mouth opened to a big 'o', "That's your grandfather? I knew your eyes were familiar!"
Shane didn't say anymore, but he occasionally laughed at the conversation until the topic of Houses came up. The train was starting to slow.
"I think I'll be in Gryffindor," Nate had said, and to Charlotte's surprise Shane had said something different.
"Maybe Ravenclaw or Slytherin."
Charlotte thought about it and still couldn't come up with an answer, "I honestly don't know. Ravenclaw like my mother, maybe."
Once the train came to a stop, the first years were called together by the lake by a giant of a man.
'His name is Rubeus Hagrid. Very friendly, but not the brightest when it comes to safety.'
Charlotte jumped, the small voice was becoming more than just a small voice. This was how she knew things, but it's never been so direct or loud before...
"Is this all o' ye? Four to a boat at the most! You lot are a small class, so ever'one should 'ave a boat!"
It ended up like the train, where Charlotte had chosen a boat that was empty, but no one would get in with her.
Except Shane.
The pudgy boy was careful getting into the boat before it took off, and Charlotte looked at him with a smile.
"Thank you."
Shane shrugged, "Nathaniel ditched me for a boat with three cute girls. And you're the only person I know besides him."
"Still...thanks."
Shane shrugged again, looking over the edge of the boat.
Charlotte sincerely hoped that Shane would end up being a friend.
When the first years entered the castle, Charlotte and Shane found themselves at the front of the group when Peeves struck with a nasty green slime.
"Look at the ickle little firsties! All covered in slime right before their time! Ooooh hoo hoo!" the poltergeist cackled until a very stern looking witch came storming from the doors of the Great Hall with a bloodied ghost following behind her.
"Peeves! Get out of here!" the ghost had said, leaving Peeves a pile of matching slime on the floor before taking his mess with him.
The older witch started to speak, "That is Peeves, our host poltergeist. Should you ever need to be rid of him, find the Bloody Baron. I am Professor McGonagall and beyond these doors is the Great Hall where you will be sorted into your Houses. When you are sorted into these Houses, you become part of a family for your time here at Hogwarts. Am I clear?"
A general, "yes, Professor" was among the small first years.
"Then follow me."
Charlotte and Shane let themselves fall behind this time.
I will be honest, I based Shane and Nathaniel off of two old friends of mine in looks and their friendship. Though definitely not their personalities. And I also gypped this chapter of it's truest potential after half of it was deleted. I'll rewrite it when I finish the story.