"Goodbye, baby." Adelise kissed the top of her daughter's head gently, holding her face with one hand. Copper skin against deep brown. Xira put her own hand on top of her mother's, her blue eyes shining with happiness.
"Bye, mother!" Xira said, only a touch of melancholy was in her voice. Xira would miss her mother, but she could be without her. Adelise let go of Xira, hands immediately clasping together in front of her. Xira could see her mother's sadness; she looked bluer than last time.
Xira didn't know why, but she didn't want to ask. The train would take off in two minutes, and Xira wanted to settle before heading for Hogwarts. She gave her mother a little wave, took her owl and trunk into both her hands and turned away from Adelise.
Adelise shot Xira one last lonely glance before she too walked away. Xira had a bright grin on her face as she walked up the train steps. Excitement had taken her that morning, and had not left quite yet. Xira subconsciously went to the compartment she had used the last two times.
At the last second, though, she opened a random one near the front. Two girls looked up from their conversation. One of them had blond hair and wore pigtails, and the other was a redhead who was a bit chubby.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt!" Xira apologized, feeling an embarrassed flush on the back of her neck. She should have stuck to her standard compartment. The girls glanced over to each other then they gave Xira a warm smile.
"You didn't interrupt!" The blond said, laughter in her voice. The redhead shared the blonde's amusement, but she didn't say anything.
"Here, sit down; Susan here was getting boring anyway." The redhead had an indignant look on her face at that, open-mouthed and offended.
"Hey!" The blond cackled at Susan while Xira sat down next to them. She felt a bit awkward, these two were obviously good friends, and here she was intruding. Xira watched Susan smack the blond, and the blond tried to hit her back, but then they seemed to remember Xira was there.
"Oh, sorry, we got carried away. What's your name? I'm Hannah Abbott, and that abusive redhead is Susan Bones." Those names rang a bell in Xira's head, but she couldn't recall where she had heard them before. Probably at sorting.
"I'm Xira Montenoose," Xira said nervously, rubbing her upper arm. She usually wasn't this unsure around people, but these girls were so warm and inviting that it was intimidating. It also might be because the only people she was around recently were Harry and her mother.
Her mother is a little better, but both are cold sometimes. Xira shouldn't be thinking about Harry though, she doesn't care about Harry. No, it's good these girls are talking to her. She can make new friends, friends that are nice to her.
"Ooh, your name sounds so foreign. Where are you from, Xira? I mean, you clearly have a Scottish accent, but that name isn't Scottish, is it?" Xira chuckled; Hannah really seemed to be the loudmouth out of the two. Susan was just paying extreme attention, an interested expression on her face.
"Um, yeah, I'm not from Scottland. My mother came from France." Xira could see the amazement in Hannah's eyes; they were twinkling. It made Xira feel special, so she couldn't help but grin a little bit.
"Wow, that's so cool! Also, your eyes are so pretty! They look like gems!" Hannah's eyes were lovely too. They had a honey brown tone, perfectly showing the kindness of the girl. Susan had darker brown, not unfriendly and not as dark as her mother's eyes, but still, they looked like they held back some.
Harry's eyes, though they were green, Xira realized they were the most bottomless eyes she'd seen. A green that was light and sparkling on the rare occasions he laughed, but usually, they lacked that sweet light. Harry had such beautiful eyes when he laughed.
A lot of things about Harry just appeared so tense. The stressed look he wore naturally. The speedy way he walked, like he was always in a rush. The fact that he either ate very little, pecking at his food like a bird or devoured it all in seconds. Xira shook her head, feeling the heat on her cheeks, remembering where she was and that she didn't want to think about Harry.
"Well, both of your guy's eyes are nice too." Xira pointed out, she was feeling a little less awkward. Maybe she was thawing a bit. Susan gave her a strange look, but Xira didn't know why.
"Our eyes are brown, though," Susan said quietly, her eyes suddenly cold. Xira almost detected some insecurity in her gaze, and the tone of her voice was bitter. Hannah looked over at her friend in befuddlement; Xira felt like she was interrupting something private.
"There's nothing wrong with brown eyes!" Said Hannah, she lost all her friendliness, and now both girls were ignoring Xira. Susan looked down at her hands. They were clasped to the point they had turned whitish.
Something clicked in Xira's head; Susan was probably insecure. Her silence while her friend was chatty, her comment, Xira was aware many girls her age tended to lack confidence in their own skin. Xira wanted to leave even more then, deciding she'd most likely make it worse if she stayed.
"Hey, I think I'll try to meet some of my other friends. It's really nice to meet you two! I hope I'll see you around." Two pairs of brown eyes turned their attention to Xira. The light brown eyes were confused; the darker ones were apologetic.
"Oh, okay! Well, I guess we'll see you around, Xira..." Both girls said goodbye as Xira left the compartment, but when Xira shut the door behind her, she heard a muffled argument continue. She couldn't really describe her feelings. Xira just knew she didn't want to deal with that right now.
Though she felt regretful because clearly, Hannah was unaware of her friends' plight and instead took it as a personal attack. Xira could think of a million things to say to Susan. Even just a simple 'Your eyes are so mysterious, that's what makes them awesome' would be so much better than dipping out.
But, Xira had already left, and she wouldn't turn back now. She felt very much unlike herself today; she hasn't been herself at all recently. Where was the girl who could approach random people and chatter with them all day? When Xira looks in the mirror, all she sees is a lonely, sad little girl.
So, she once more went to that same compartment, where she sat by herself. Xira got some homework done, she read a book, and she slept some. Xira wondered if she'd see those girls around. Did they know she was a Slytherin? Would they hate her if they knew? She didn't think so, but you never know.
As soon as Xira felt the snow on Hogwarts grounds crunch underfoot, she felt a great sigh of satisfaction escape her. Though she had just come from her home, this place was home too. Xira knew she wasn't the only one who felt that either.
It was sometime around noon, Xira guessed. Maybe they were serving good stuff for lunch. Xira's stomach grumbled as if on cue, so she marched alongside the other students who were entering Hogwarts.
Once she got into the dining hall, Xira noticed it was pretty vacant. Usually, a good few students were scattered around during lunchtime, but maybe they were all still getting settled. There was one person at the Slytherin table, though.
A boy was scribbling something onto a piece of parchment, messy black hair clearly uncombed. Xira knew that boy; his furred brow and frown were iconic. But Harry looked even paler than usual, and his eyes were looking heavy, his glasses slightly askew.
Harry must have heard Xira's footsteps as she neared because he looked up. Tons of emotions passed over his face all at once, utter exhaustion, relief, fear, remorse, and something strangely loving. Xira didn't know what her face looked like, but she bet it was a lot of things too.
"Xira..." Harry's voice was relatively thin, and Xira questioned what he'd been doing to wear him out this much. He looked like he hadn't slept for days; he seemed far older than eleven. If they were on better terms, she would've asked how old he really was in a half-joking manner.
"I'm sorry, and I know I should've said so sooner, but I was just so busy..." Harry shook his head. Xira was watching his every move. He locked eyes with her, green looking so sincere she almost had to look away. She wasn't planning on forgiving him yet, but his genuine regret was fierce.
And with a glance toward his wrist she knew she'd forgive him. The bracelet she made for him was right there. Xira had almost forgotten about it. She'd stayed up all night making that thing. It made her want to smile.
What had happened while she was gone? Had he met the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future? Did they tell him his grinch ways would have him end up alone? Well, whatever occurred suited Xira just fine. She snickered and plopped down beside him.
Xira would probably be salty about it for a bit longer, but she honestly missed the companionship Harry offered, and maybe just Harry in general. She stole the biscuit off his plate that was practically calling to her, shoving it down her gullet.
"So, do you forgive me?" Harry asked with a touch of hilarity, a slight smirk on his drained face. It added some much-needed color to his skin. Xira shrugged to answer his question, mouth now loaded with bacon and eggs.
Harry rolled his eyes, but Xira caught the smile of relief and fondness; unknowingly, she too wore the same expression. Some fire inside her that had been running low on fuel lit once more.
Three reasons why it took so long for this chapter...1) boy troubles xO. 2) homecoming drama. 3) procrastination. So, yep, I mean I like this chapter though, particularly the end that almost was cut. Idk about the Susan and Hannah part it just kinda happened, but maybe new characters? Hope ya'll enjoyed anyhow.
-Lemon Nugget
