Chapter Twenty-One

Start of Year 2

It was the night before Lucy's return to Hogwarts as a second-year. She and her muggle family were sat around the radio with a dozen or so other muggle neighbours in one of the houses which owned one (not everyone could afford a radio, the Norris family certainly couldn't). The adults and older children were listening with intense nerves. Lucy sat with her muggle friends Polly and Jane as the three of them had made up as their silly feud seemed pointless when war may be coming.

"It's bloody happening" one of the young muggle men muttered under his breath.

His bad language in front of children would usually be chastised but not in these circumstances. The newsman began talking about evacuation which didn't affect Lucy's city, St Albans. Though not everyone was so lucky as in the next nearest city London, it was a different story. Tom Riddle was sat in 'Wool's Orphanage' with his muggle counterparts. Mrs Cole had the radio on in the orphanage's dining room as the children were listening to the radio while eating supper. Sounds of gasps were heard when the newsman mentioned London being evacuated. Mrs Cole telling them to calm down as she mentioned them being sent to the countryside.

"Tom. We will keep Mr Dumbledore informed on your position here" Mrs Cole told the lad.

Hogwarts was the best place for him she thought. Tom just giving a half-hearted nod back. The slightly older boy who spoke to Eileen Prince a week ago found himself having to comfort two little girls. As he promised he would be with them at the train station and they might get a nice little family in the countryside. This muggle boy was one of the older lads and thus the one everyone else seemed to turn to. Tom hated him for simply existing as he gave him a dirty look. Over in Yorkshire, things were slightly different again. As the Filch boys were sat in the living room as their father was reading out an announcement from the 'Minister for Magic' from 'The Daily Prophet'.

Muggle war may be coming to Great Britain once again. Muggle children are being evacuated to the countryside. I ask that you do not take any in as much as you may wish to. Unless you are absolutely certain that you can hide any magic from them. To the witches and wizards living in the major cities, I ask you to simply follow your muggle neighbours into shelters and not put protective charms around your house (those that do must live far away from muggle eyes). Hogwarts would like to highly recommended muggle-borns (and those who live in major cities) to remain at Hogwarts for the Easter and Christmas holidays this year.

Argus watched as his father closed the newspaper as he and his wife went outside. Putting protective charms around their house for they lived far enough from muggle eyes. The Filch boys felt safe enough as they weren't in any danger at home or at school. Though Argus did worry for his friend Lucy, she didn't have the luxury of protective charms.

"She's going to school tomorrow. Hogwarts is safe...so don't fret" Archibald told his brother. He could sense why he was worried.

"Yes, yes...I won't rest until I see her however"

...

King's Cross station was very busy on the 1st September 1939. As the usual gaggle of witches and wizards came onto the platforms. Though there were just as many muggle children as many were being sent away to the countryside. The train conductor blowing a whistle as muggle and magical children were almost on top of each other. Parents and children crying in all directions. Lucy pausing slightly as she looked at the evacuees. Some of them were going to St Albans as she watched them get on the train to her home city. She briefly caught a glimpse of Tom Riddle too as he vanished into the other platform. Lucy giving a deep breath before walking into the platform herself. She saw a blonde little girl in pigtails skipping towards the 'Hogwarts Express' with a pink frilly suitcase, no doubt a first-year. Lucy climbed onto the train herself with her own suitcase (and pet cat 'Mr Filch'). She was less nervous this time round as she entered her second-year. She looked into each compartment in search of her friends and to her relief, she found three of them. Ruth, Poppy and Victoria waved at her with smiles (they were now in their third-year). Lucy however noticed a small girl sitting next to Ruth and wondered who she was.

"Welcome back, Lucy" Ruth spoke with a smile as the girls embraced. She gave a quick hug to her other girlfriends.

Sitting across from them all with relief. It was nice to see them again however she felt awful for her muggle family and friends back home. Myrtle came in moments later as all the students were now on the train. The little first-year girl Lucy saw before was seen briefly skipping down the train as she went past their compartment. She now noticed the two purple bows holding up her pigtails. Lucy giving Myrtle a quick hug as well. They hadn't been able to see each other as promised during the summer break due to the war news being so unpredictable. Though they did write quite a lot during the break. Lucy looked back towards the eleven year old girl.

"Oh. So sorry...this is my little sister, Lucy. She's called Betty. Very nervous, aren't you?" Ruth asked her little sister.

"A little bit" Betty spoke up as she remained near her older teenage sister.

"Nice to meet you, Betty" Lucy told her, remembering how nervous she was on her first year.

The Fisk family were a mostly pure-blood Slytherin family. Ruth being the only Hufflepuff. Betty was torn between wanting to be her in sister's house and wanting to be in the traditional house of her family. Though her parents assured her they would be proud of her no matter what. The train journey went quite smoothly as the girls caught up with the gossip. Betty finally began talking too when the trolley cart witch passed them.

"Cauldron cake please" Betty spoke up with a smile as she passed over some coins.

She licked her lips before eating the delicious cake.

...

"You get the carriages this time" Poppy informed Lucy and Myrtle.

As the girls left the platform. She saw Ruth giving her little sister a hug before joining her friends. Lucy followed her Hufflepuff friends up a small slope and towards a gated entrance as she saw carriages (they looked like they were moving by themselves in her eyes). She and Myrtle climbed in after Poppy, Victoria and Ruth into one of the carriages. They settled in and Lucy had to admit that she liked this over the boats. She looked across and saw Eileen Prince trying to get onto the carriage with some of the Slytherins.

"Go away!" Nott shouted at her as he stood at the front of the carriage to block her entry.

She was no longer welcome into Tom Riddle's friendship group as Nott, Avery, Lestrange, Walburga and Druella had proven. They thought they made that obvious when they snubbed her on the train but obviously not. Tom had told them she was a "muggle-loving freak" just as he promised. The fact she didn't agree with their cause was reason enough for them to cut ties with her.

"Tom isn't even pure-blood himself!" Eileen hissed however this just made them angrier.

Walburga stood up as she smacked her around the face for daring to bring it up. Eileen standing back as she now had a cut lip. Tom Riddle giving a small smile as they had proven their loyalty to him. The carriage rode away just after Nott shoved Eileen back as she landed in the mud. Cackling was heard from Walburga and Druella as they were ridden into the distance towards Hogwarts. Eileen forced herself back up as she tried in vain to wipe away the mud but it just made it worse as now her hands were covered in the stuff too.

"I almost feel sorry for her...Eileen! Come and sit with us" Ruth suggested as she moved over.

Feeling like she didn't have much choice, Eileen walked over as she sat between Ruth and Poppy with a sigh. Ruth wasn't quite as anti-Slytherin as most students due to her family history. She gave Eileen a tissue as the girl began to clean herself up a bit.

"Aguamenti" Eileen muttered to herself as she allowed water to go on her muddy robes.

...

TBC