Chapter 1
"The wind is mine to ride, and I swear that I have wings." Elle soared up towards the heavens, her fingers brushing the lowest lying clouds and she looked up towards the stars. Abruptly, she dived, relishing in blood pumping in her veins as the adrenaline surged and the ground grew nearer. She still pulled out of the dive before Professor Blanco had in their first flying lesson, but she was inching closer and closer to the ground with every week of the summer. She turned sharply, heading towards the outcropping of trees that surrounded the small country home she had been living at all summer. Expertly, she wove around the trunks, dodging branches and pretending they were bludgers.
Elle soared up above the treetops again and noticed, with a lurch, the first fingers of dawn crawling their way up the sky. Sighing, she headed to the ground, dismounting gracefully. Quietly, Elle crept back to the farm, stowing the broom in the shed it had been 'locked' in all summer. (Elle didn't need to use alohomora to get at it – there were plenty of kids to teach her the muggle way, though they didn't really know why she wanted access to a dusty old broom so badly). She snuck her way through the kitchen and up the stairs, and gratefully eased into bed. She reckoned she still had about two hours before Heidi, the household's owner, woke her to prepare for the trip to platform nine and three quarters. Elle bit back the excitement that bubbled up in her chest at the mere thought of returning to Hogwarts. She needed to rest for a bit.
Elle felt like she had barely closed her eyes when she was suddenly jerked awake by a small hand on her shoulder. Groggily, Elle arose, rubbing her eyes. In front of her was tiny Elsie, the youngest child in the home. "Miss Heidi says it's time for you to get ready to go" she said, still clutching the teddy she liked to sleep with. "Y'aright imma going..." Elle mumbled, still half asleep.
Barely awake, Elle tumbled out of bed and started to make her way down the corridor to brush her teeth. She was interrupted by a sharp push, and crashed against a nearby side table, so that she had to jump to catch its vase before it crashed to the floor. Scowling, she replaced the vase and rubbed her side. That would bruise. "Sod off Killian you great lump" she growled, looking at the older boy who had been terrorizing her all summer. Killian Doyle was a large thirteen-year-old, with bushy eyebrows and a rather dull face. He grinned at her wickedly, sticking out a foot to try and trip her as she continued walking. Elle sidestepped him easily, making a rude gesture with her hand. Elle had learned a rather lot of nasty words and gestures this summer, and she looked forward to testing them the next time Esmond or Tobias tried anything.
The older boy returned the gesture, pulling a grotesque face, but saying nothing, as Miss Heidi had just gotten up the stairs. "Elle Williams, we are going to be late! I don't understand how you can be tucked into bed by nine and still be this tired every morning!" Elle tried to smile sweetly at the lady. She was really quite nice. "I'm growing again" she said. It wasn't even a lie; Elle had been growing like a weed. Just a few months past twelve, and she was already as tall as Miss Heidi, and taller than Killian (much to his annoyance). Elle hurried to brush her teeth and get dressed.
As Elle ruffled Elsie's hair, who was near tears in her goodbye, and made her way down the hall, Killian growled at her "have fun at your posh private school. Shame mummy cares enough to pay for that, but not enough to come and get you." Elle shot Killian a nasty look. To excuse her absence from the home when she went to Hogwarts, the foster system had been told that Elle's family was financing her private school but could not currently house her. Somehow, this information had been leaked to the children, and Killian and his cronies had been throwing it in her face whenever they had the chance.
They had no idea just how much reminders of her mother hurt her. It had now been well over two years since Jessica Williams had gone missing, though it was only near the one-year anniversary of her missing persons case opening at the ministry for magic. Elle had patiently awaited news (by owl or by post) all summer on updates from Mr. Potter, the auror investigating her case, but none had come. She had been kept completely in the dark.
Between Killian's torture and the complete silence from the ministry, it had been a truly terrible summer. But even Elle, who was known for her brooding nature, couldn't contain her joy as she stepped onto platform nine and three quarters, broom, trunk, and cat carrier in hand. Immediately, she was almost bowled over by a shrieking missile of very frizzy brown hair. "ELLE" Rose cried, grabbing her for a big hug. Albus was soon after, also grinning from ear to ear.
Elle looked at her two friends with unbridled affection. "I've missed you so much" she cried, in a rare display of public emotion. She looked back to Miss Heidi, who left with a curt nod. Miss Heidi had a brother who went to Hogwarts, she had found out after she had picked her up from the train platform at the beginning of the summer. Despite her previous knowledge, being a muggle, she seemed uncomfortable in the magic world. Elle didn't blame her for leaving as soon as she could. In fact, she was rather glad to be rid of her last reminder of her summer home.
Rose was already babbling away to Elle about the exciting summer she had had. Apparently, her grandparents (not the ones she shared with Albus) had taken her to France, and she had the tan to prove it. Elle listened politely but scanned the platform as she did so. Of all her friends, she was most anxious to meet with Isidre. The fact that she hadn't had the chance to explain to him that she couldn't write to him all summer had been weighing heavily on her mind. She felt especially guilty, since the only source of joy she'd had this summer, her broom, had been a parting gift from him.
Unfortunately, the train platform was bustling with activity and Elle couldn't spot her friend, who was rather short (even shorter than Albus). Who she did spot was Sam, who was standing next to a large, bald, black man, who she assumed was his father. The older man was clutching a small boy of about four in his arms, who was looking every which way with wonder in his eyes. Sam waved them all over furiously.
"Blimey Elle, you've grown again. I didn't think it was possible." Elle smiled at Sam, still as unfiltered as ever. "This is my Dad by the way" he said, gesturing to his father who gave them all a crinkly-eyed smile "and my little brother, JoJo." "Joseph, Samson" his father corrected in a deep, slow voice. Sam shrugged "everyone calls him JoJo." The small boy waved a pudgy hand at the newcomers, and giggled, hiding behind his father's shoulder. Elle's heart lurched at the sight of the happy family.
"We best be getting on the train" said Albus, catching the look in Elle's eyes. "Right-o" said Sam cheerily, unabashedly giving his father and brother a hug and a kiss. As they made their way further down the train platform, Sam said proudly "I reckon JoJo's going to get a letter too. I saw him explode my Nana's cookie jar this summer when she wouldn't give him another one." Albus laughed "does that mean your gift for explosion is genetic?" Sam shrugged "those guavas of Flitwick never stood a chance. Still passed charms though. How about everyone else?" he asked, referring to their examination marks, which had been mailed out to them.
Elle beamed. She had received hers in the muggle post, the only connection to the magic world she'd had all summer. "I did okay" she said. Albus hit her shoulder "don't be modest. Rose is about to tell us all that she got top marks in History of Magic and transfiguration and defence against the dark arts." Rose nodded vigorously "and I was close in potions, but Albus beat me. I don't see how, since his cauldron exploded." "That wasn't my fault. Plus, I only tied for top marks – with Scorpius" Albus shot back "and I would've traded your potions for transfiguration. I think my dad would've preferred that." "Oh hush, Nan baked you a cauldron cake to celebrate, what more could you want?"
Elle sighed. The bickering had already started up. "I did get top marks in charms" Elle cut in, interrupting their fight. "I got top in astronomy" chimed in a voice to Elle's right. Elle jumped. She hadn't noticed Ruth joining their group, though that wasn't completely out of the ordinary. The girl was unnaturally silent in all her movements. Sam clapped her on the back. "Welcome back, Ruthie" he said. The pale girl smiled.
Just then, the group arrived to where they had been heading, the stash of trunks and squawking owls near Rose and Albus's parents. Elle looked to Harry Potter, a pulse of anger rising in her temple. He hadn't spoken to her all summer. Mr. Potter didn't seem to notice however, as he was busy scolding his oldest son, James, who had just been caught trying to smuggle a large bag of dungbombs onto the train. "Honestly son, what am I going to do with you? Where did you even get these? You didn't leave my sight the entire time you were in Diagon Alley." The older boy didn't reply, just waggled his eyebrows at his father. "Bye Dad see you at Christmas" he said "you too Mum" he threw over his shoulder before boarding the train. As he was turning, he caught Elle's gaze, his eyes glittering with mischief. The red headed woman put her hands on her hips "honestly. He turns fourteen a month ago and suddenly he's too cool to give his mum and hug and a kiss before he leaves?"
Elle looked curiously at Albus's mother, who'd she'd never met. She had a shock of red hair, but it was much brighter than James' deep rust coloured, untidy mop. Next to her was a child who could only be her daughter, they looked so alike. She was begging to get on the train. "Not yet Lily" she said, still frowning and looking at the door her eldest son had retreated behind "next year." The young girl pouted. "Oh, come on mum, you know he loves you. I'll give you your hug" Albus cut in. She smiled warmly at Albus. Elle watched awkwardly as Albus and Rose said their teary goodbyes to their parents. Rose spent a few minutes talking to her younger brother, Hugo, who also looked very disappointed that he wasn't old enough to come to Hogwarts yet.
Elle kept trying to look Mr. Potter in the eye, but he was still preoccupied, this time with getting all the bags ready to go. 'He's avoiding me on purpose', Elle thought. Before she could explore this idea any further however, the scarlet Hogwarts express gave a warning whistle. "Five minutes until she leaves, you best be getting on then" Rose's mother announced. Elle figured that Rose got her penchant for stating obvious facts from her mother.
Quickly, the group of friends boarded the train, scouting out an empty carriage. After all their stuff had been loaded in, the group settled down, but Elle got quickly to her feet. "We need to look for Isidre!" she said as the train started to roll away from the platform. "Be logical" a pale blonde boy said as he entered the carriage himself. "It's much easier for him to find us that it is for us to find him. Let's stay here for twenty minutes, and if he hasn't found us by then, we'll go out and look." "Scorpius!" cried Albus joyfully, pulling him into a bear hug. "I've missed you!" The blonde boy smiled, a hint of rose creeping into his pale cheeks.
Elle sighed, retreating into the corner as the happy summer recaps continued around her. She didn't have any decent memories to share, and she was still worried about Isidre, logic be damned. She trained her eyes out the window, watching as London got smaller and smaller in their view. Her eyes started to feel heavy as she welcomed the gentle sway and thrum of the train. She really hadn't had much sleep last night…
Elle awoke with a jerk an indeterminate amount of time later. Groaning and rubbing the crick that was already forming in her neck from her awkward position, Elle sat up and looked around the room. The carriage was empty, except for Isidre, who had his back to her and looked like he was leaving. "Isidre!" Elle cried, and the boy jumped. "I was looking for you!" Isidre turned to her, running his fingers through his shortly cropped hair. He looked quite sad Elle thought. "Were you?" he asked, not meeting her eye. "Why didn't you write, then?"
Elle quickly explained that she couldn't write, because she shared her bedroom with five other girls, and she couldn't risk and owl waking any of them up. "and I didn't even have any money for stamps or anything to send anything through the muggle post. I haven't talked to anyone all summer. It's what I was trying to tell you before you left on the platform, but you just disappeared!" she said. Isidre looked at her. She thought he might be trying not to cry.
"I thought… I thought…" he started. "I thought you might not want to be my friend anymore." He said mumbled finally, scuffling his shoe "I came here to ask you, but you were asleep." Elle's gaze softened. "Of course, I still want you to be my friend, Isidre" Elle said "I thought about you every day. Your broom is the only thing that got me through the summer. I don't think I could have survived without it." Isidre smiled weakly at that. "Did she fly for you alright then?" he asked tentatively.
That was all the encouragement that Elle needed. She immediately launched into a retelling of all her summer flying adventures, sneaking out at night, her game of weaving through the trees, and all the dives she had been practising. Isidre sat down and listened raptly. "Do you really think you can make the Ravenclaw team this year, then?" he asked. Elle blushed deeply "oh… I don't know about that" she said. "It was just a bit of fun…" Isidre shook his head.
Embarrassed, Elle looked around the carriage. "Where did everyone else go then? I figured they were out looking for you, but I reckon I've been asleep for ages…" Isidre frowned. "You know, I thought I heard a bit of commotion when I was coming up here, but I figured it was just James Potter or one of his friends again…" the two looked at each other uneasily, before quickly getting to their feet and heading out of the carriage.