=.=
WALK THE LINE
Harry x OC
'for those that don't feel wanted.'
Chapter 5: Never Alone
Song Choice: You Are My Sunshine- covered by Renee Dominique
Sarah grew used to the ring.
Eventually the headaches lessened, and no other unexpected forms of magic came to fruition once she returned to the muggle world.
That didn't mean things didn't happen of course, but all of them had true intent.
Sarah found- with enough concentration- she could still do things. Small things albeit, but still things. And nothing of the scale that she had done to Dudley on the last day of school.
Speaking of, Sarah found great enjoyment when she and Maggie returned home. The Dursley's had forbidden Harry and Sarah from seeing each other. It was meant to punish Harry for what Sarah had done. Or as Dudley put it- what Harry egged Sarah into doing.
However, when the Dursley's learned Harry knew about magic, their bravado suffered. Especially when he revealed Maggie also knew magic. It got him Dudley's second bedroom, albeit still stuffed to the brim with the pig boy's broken things, but it was a full room, nonetheless.
Harry told Sarah the moment she and Maggie returned from their trip. And while the Dursley's spared no scathing comments towards the two, Sarah felt a quiet joy whenever she would come to get Harry and see Vernon and Petunia Dursley looking down their noses at her. She once commented that their nose hairs could become spider legs and they never made eye contact with her again.
She couldn't do it anymore, but sometimes she was tempted to pull the ring off and try. After she explained it to Harry, she settled a little bit more about him remaining in that house. She supposed that Harry's Privet Drive was Sarah's orphanage. He didn't want to talk about his more than Sarah wanted to talk hers.
The duo found a sort of peace after a time, a peace that was hardly broken over the next year. Sarah got to spend her first birthday with Maggie and Harry, and they celebrated together since it was just days apart and they would both be ten. Maggie took them to the fair, and they had a lovely summer.
Without Harry- sadly- Sarah and Maggie visited the Sallows a few more times over the summer, and then again at Christmas. Though Sarah was adamant that Harry would spend time with them at their own house Christmas day.
Selene had begun to write to Sarah occasionally, it seemed the girl had no friends of her own and had taken a shining to Sarah. Often her letters complained of Cerus, but once he went away for his first year at Hogwarts the letters turned towards girly things.
Sarah, for the most part, wasn't sure what to say most of the time. And she confided in Harry about it. Harry was the one to urge her to just pretend she was talking to him. It worked, for the most part, and the girls had made a simple friendship. Selene was a kind girl who was just a bit lonely at times.
Cerus continued to be annoying and aloof at any gatherings they had, while Selene would gush about their time at Hogwarts coming soon enough. Overall, Sarah did enjoy the Sallow's company on their visits, but she always wished she could visit with Harry in tow.
And life was good, for a time.
Sarah was still harboring the secret of knowing who Harry was though, a secret that weighed heavily on her mind through her entire tenth year. That was until she finally asked Maggie if there was any way they could find something of the Potter's to give to Harry for his eleventh birthday.
Maggie had been mildly surprised but had conceded to try and find a solution. The frizzy haired witch admitted she knew of the Potter's but was not particularly close to them, being a few years their senior after all.
"That James Potter was a troublemaker. Harry looks a lot like him. He had a few other friends, Sirius and James were practically joined at the hip- not unlike you and Harry, mind you. Shame about Peter though... Ah, but there was Remus Lupin. Perhaps we could look there?"
Maggie had intended to be muttering to herself, but Sarah was intently listening as she sat with her adoptive mother outside the Sallow house. Cerus was flying around, having been home for only two days and hadn't stopped talking about his first year at Hogwarts to bug his little sister. Selene was constantly asking him not to 'spoil' her first impressions of the castle.
"Harry thinks they died in a car crash." Sarah said, gaining Maggie's attention. She sighed, shaking her head.
"I suppose they had to tell him something." She conceded, but Sarah mulled over this Remus Lupin.
"Can we ask Mr Lupin for any information on the Potter's?" Sarah asked, wanting to act. Maggie hummed, then looked down at her with a smile.
"Perhaps we can. Why don't you write a letter, hm? Would be good practice for when we have to write letters. Speaking of, your Hogwarts letter should be here soon." She said, distracted as she watched Calliope, Cerus and Selene's mother, and Atlas had another argument before she disapparated. Maggie frowned, huffing, then added glumly. "I imagine I'll be drinking with that one until morning."
Sarah did write her letter, a simple one, only stating she was a friend of Harry's looking to get him a gift when he came to Hogwarts and that she wished to give him a piece of his parents, something he had never been told about. She skirted the truth, saying that the wizarding world was kept from him to allow him to grow up properly out of the public eye.
Unfortunately, Cerus decided he was bored and was going to taunt Sarah over it. When she had sealed it in an envelope, he snatched it suddenly from her hands.
The blonde reacted much the same as when Dudley's friends knocked her food from her hands the first time she met him. She paused, looking at her empty hand, then slowly looked up at Cerus. The boy gave a cheeky grin, holding her letter close between two fingers.
"Is it a love letter? Hm?" He taunted, twirling it around. He saw the name written on the front. "Remus Lupin? Funny name."
Sarah didn't react. She simply held out her hand expectantly. Cerus gave a lopsided smirk, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Give me back my letter, Cerus." she said calmly. Cerus chuckled, taking a step closer. Sarah was quite tall for her age, but Cerus was a touch taller. He looked down at her, enjoying the way her one eye twitched slightly from annoyance.
"Make me." He challenged. "Show me that magic you've got in you."
Sarah stayed still for a moment, before she reached for her letter. Cerus dangled it out of her reach, one gangly arm easily keeping it away as he toyed with it. But Sarah didn't want to play into his games, she didn't want to use magic for the principal reason that he wanted her to. So, she took a step towards him, going chest to chest. Cerus raised a brow, but Sarah swung her one foot between both of Cerus' legs and hooked her heel onto the back of his. She then placed both hands on his chest and pushed, and as all of this happened in one swift motion, he'd fallen back without the chance to catch himself.
Cerus fell, shocked that she had managed to push him over so easily. It might've been more embarrassing if Sarah were not almost the same size as him. Unlike Selene, who barely came up to his shoulder. He looked up at her and noticed that- in his flailing- she had caught the letter from his grasp while he had been trying to stay standing. She held it much like he had, between two fingers, looking down her nose at him. He stared up at her, seeing the hint of a smirk on her lips as mirth danced in her eyes.
"I'd say you're the one whose fallen for me." She said, calling back to his implications of a love letter. There was a hint of a laugh in her voice, and Cerus couldn't help the smirk that broke across his lips in reaction. Dare he say, he found it quite charming.
"So you can be fun." he said, making the smirk on her lips retreat quickly. Sarah backed up as he stood, dusting off invisible dirt from his trousers.
"Depends what you think is fun." Sarah said, her features schooled again. Cerus found it to be a little game to make her slip. He grinned, which unnerved Sarah, though she'd never tell. Thankfully the blonde was saved by Selene running down the halls towards her.
"Sarah! Have you got your letter? Mum said we can go shopping soon- we can go together!" Selene gushed, eyes beaming. Sarah shook her head, a small smile slipping onto her face.
"Maggie says mine will come soon, since I was born at the end of July," she said, twirling her letter for Remus in her hands. Selene's blue eyes slipped down to it; a brow raised. "But it would be nice to go to Diagon Alley together."
Selene looked up at Sarah again and grinned.
"Lovely! I can finally go with a friend!" Selene gushed. Cerus scoffed, crossing his arms.
"What am I then?" He pouted. Selene scowled.
"A thorn in my side." she said lowly. Cerus chuckled, the sound making Sarah shiver unconsciously. She ignored Cerus as Selene linked arms with her and pulled her away.
"I get Sarah for the day, run along brother!" Selene exclaimed over her shoulder. Sarah couldn't fight the small smirk that slipped onto her face then as Selene beamed at her. The blonde glanced over her shoulder at Cerus, watching him roll his eyes and smirk boyishly as they walked away.
Sarah had been hoping that she and Harry could've gone shopping for their first-year items together, but Maggie had informed her that Harry was being escorted by the Gamekeeper at Hogwarts. Sarah had no idea how she knew, as Harry and his family had all but vanished a few days prior, but that meant Sarah did indeed go shopping with the Sallow's for their things. While most of the trip was filled with Cerus trying to goad the girls into causing a scene, or just being a prat in general, Sarah did enjoy the chance to spend time with a girl. She had never done so, and apparently neither had Selene.
While Sarah found the entire trip simple, the one thing she was excited about was her wand. Between her and Selene the duo had taken almost two hours to finally find their wands.
Blackthorn wood, ten and a half inches, unyielding, with a dragon heartstring core.
To her surprise, Ollivander looked at her with amusement as he said, "I sold the brother of this wand just last year." He then looked over to Cerus, who had been idling in the corner of the shop while they all waited on her. He glanced up at the comment and looked over to see them both. A wicked grin spread across his face, but it wasn't until they left the store that he antagonized her again.
"Well, you know what they say," he teased while walking beside her. "Wands from the same origin are fated to meet in battle. Perhaps we'll be rivals now."
"Perhaps she'll mop the floor with you!" Selene said, grabbing Sarah's arm and tugging her away. Cerus just laughed.
While the rest of the trip was uneventful, Sarah did feel some guilt in enjoying her birthday without Harry that year. She hoped that the Gamekeeper had gotten him some butterbeer to try, for she was certain he would like that. Instead, she stayed with the Sallow's and listened to them singing happy birthday to her, which would never stop sounding bizarre to her ears after so many years of nothing.
It also complicated a few points, as Sarah had wanted to give Harry his gift on his eleventh birthday, which had already passed. She settled for the next time she would see him once he had returned from his own trip to Diagon Alley, whenever that was.
It had taken some time, but Maggie had gotten Sarah's letter to Remus Lupin, who had sent several photos of Harry's parents along with a short letter in return.
To Sarah,
I must say, I am surprised to have received a letter regarding Lily and James Potter. It has been some time since I have had the chance to look through old memories of Hogwarts. I hope that these photos and words are exactly what you are looking for. Please send my regards to Harry, and may he have a happy eleventh birthday."
Sarah looked at the photos that were sent, along with another handwritten note. She smiled as she gazed at the duo in all the photos, seeing Harry's eyes in his mother's and how Harry looked a lot like his father, James. She hoped that Harry liked his gift. Maggie assisted her in making it, but once it was complete, she let a sliver of a smile slip onto her face.
A few days later, Harry was finally home. With it came a storm of questions.
"Did you know I was famous?" Harry asked as they returned to their favourite swings. Sarah nodded slowly despite the fact that he wasn't looking at her. "And how my parent's died?"
"Maggie wouldn't let me tell you. She told me that it wasn't in my right. She got me a book that detailed what happened and- I'm sorry." Sarah admitted, watching the way Harry clenched his jaw.
"I'm not mad at you. I- it's just-" Harry let out a long sigh. He didn't have the words to explain what he was feeling right now. Sarah reached for his hand and carefully intertwined their fingers together. She stroked her thumb over the back of his hand as Harry squeezed hers. He met her gaze, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"You should've seen how people were acting. A bit ridiculous. Everyone was treating me like I was a celebrity." Harry said, trying to keep a straight face, then he frowned. "Felt bizarre, once they shook my hand it's like I didn't exist again."
"How so?" Sarah asked, encouraging him to say more. Finally, Harry let out his thoughts.
"I'm famous for surviving a dark wizard attack, but let's face it Sar, my magic is nothing impressive. I mean, the things you can do-" Sarah held back a grimace. "- I just can't compare to it. And I'm not some famous wizard, I'm just- well, I'm me, I'm Harry."
Sarah watched him for a moment, swinging lazily back and forth with her feet dragging on the ground.
"Well," Sarah began, "I can't help you with that, people are going to talk anyway, but the best you can do is just learn Harry. And... If it makes you feel better, you're always going to be just Harry to me as well."
Harry laughed lightly, looking over at Sarah.
"Even if I become world famous for something I deserve the title for?" he asked with a grin.
"Terribly sorry, but yes."
He laughed again while Sarah smirked.
"And if the fame ever does get to your head, I can stuff you in our broom closet to knock you down a peg. I'll even jump on the stairs above it for good measure. Speaking of- how's that eyesight coming along? Any improvement now that Dudley isn't raining dust down on you?" Sarah did her best to keep it cheeky and not scathing, which did the trick as Harry laughed lightly.
"Eyesight is still poor, must be a lasting effect." He said, squeezing her hand again. Sarah hummed.
"Or poor genetics." She said, letting go of Harry's hand. He frowned, wondering where that came from. He watched as Sarah reached into a bag and retrieved a small gift. Harry was surprised when she handed it to him.
"For me?" he asked, making Sarah roll her eyes.
"Of course. You ran off to some coastal excursion without me, so I had to wait with it." she said airily. Harry scoffed. 'Coastal excursion' was not the words he would use to define that night, but he digressed. His focus was now on the small box in his hands.
Harry opened it, and his heart stuttered to a stop.
Inside the box was a picture frame, the picture in the middle was of a woman with bright green eyes and long auburn hair. Next to her was a man who was grinning at the camera, his round rimmed glasses covering hazel eyes and messy jet-black locks were growing at every angle.
As he stared at them, the man kissed the woman's cheek, then cuddled her closer as they grinned at the camera.
Sarah watched as Harry's eyes became glassy. He knew, from the moment he saw them, he knew they were his parents.
Harry didn't move, not even as Sarah stepped off her swing to stand in front of him. Gently and slowly, Sarah placed her hands on the frame above his. He didn't move his eyes, but he could hear Sarah softly speaking.
"There is a trick, one I thought might make it... better." She slowly ran her hands over the frame and whispered. A soft glow emitted from the photo before it changed.
Harry's ears were filled with laughter as he watched the duo now standing next to each other in a different setting. Lily was in a white dress, and James in black dress robes.
"I solemnly swear," James' voice echoed as the picture spoke. "That until the end of our days and then some, I will always stand next to you. Love you, and be the best husband you could possibly have."
"And I solemnly swear, to suffer through whatever madness you might throw my way, in sickness and in health. And even when you're up to no good." Lily's voice came out softly, a knowing smile on her face. They both laughed, then they kissed.
Harry felt the tears falling, and aggressively wiped at them. He smacked his glasses some, before gentle hands helped to remove them. In his bleary sight he realized Sarah was knelt in front of him. She took the photo as well, so he was free to weep.
"Wh- How did you- I-I-" He continued to wipe his eyes. Sarah pursed her lips and hardened her eyes; not that he could see them.
"I asked Maggie to help me. We combined a few of the photos from their wedding. She- there's a few ways to recreate their voices with magic. It's not an easy spell, but I think we got it. A friend of theirs sent in their wedding vows... I always like to hear someone's voice and thought you would want to know what your parents sounded like." She felt nervous as Harry took his glasses back.
He could now see it, the vulnerable look that Sarah rarely ever showed. The one she only exposed to him and Maggie a handful of times. Harry was in awe as he looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time. Something pulsed inside of him, warm and hot. He always felt it, but somehow it felt- stronger.
He realized then that Sarah was still rambling- something she rarely did, and only when she was nervous. What would Sarah ever have to be nervous for? He couldn't fathom it at all, and so he reached for her and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
He felt her go rigid, having not been the one to initiate the closeness, but she soon melted and hugged him back. Harry held onto her like she was a lifeline, his heart soaring at the luck he felt at having met Sarah Williams.
"Thank you." He whispered, his voice cracking as he squeezed her tightly. Sarah didn't mind. She held him back just as fiercely.
"I promise, Harry," she whispered. "No matter what, not matter how alone you feel, or overwhelmed, it's you and me."
She curled into him more, using her one hand to cradle the back of his head, her fingers softly running through his hair much like Maggie had done for her. Harry practically melted into her hold.
"I promise you're loved, and you're never going to be alone. I promise." She said, her voice blooming with emotion as Harry stared at the beads around his left hand. He stared at the hand circling Sarah and knew she was right about her words.
As long as Sarah Williams was here, he would always feel love, and he would never feel alone.
"I forgot to tell you one thing," Harry mumbled into her shoulder, not keen on letting her go anytime soon. Sarah hummed in question, and Harry felt a grin slip onto his lips. "My parents did leave me a bit of money."
He pulled back then, looking Sarah in the eye as she frowned slightly.
"And?" She felt confused, but Harry just beamed. She was never the type to expect gifts, her eyes had bulged the first time he saw Maggie give her a gift for Christmas, but Harry knew he had to give back on that kindness to her somehow.
"And so, I can finally pay you back for all the missed celebrations! I think I've got- what? Three birthdays? Two Christmas's? At least that, oh we should count New Years, and Easter, Halloween- you always give me sweets and- what? Why are you laughing?"
Sarah let out a giggle- a giggle. It was adorable and hilariously charming and melodious to his ears.
"Sarah Williams is giggling. Am I dead? This can't be real." Harry teased.
"Shut it Potter, this is my yearly quota." Sarah shoved him, and his swing swung backwards before he returned to be in front of her again.
"Leave it to Harry Potter to think he owes me gifts the first time he gets a spit of money." Sarah scoffed. "Harry, you owe me nothing."
"I'd like to think I owe you a few things." Harry argued. Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Just don't break the frame, that'll be gift enough." Sarah asked, handing the photo of his parents back. It had returned to that original photo once more. Harry gently took it, feeling solemn again.
"You'll have to show me how you did it." Harry insisted. Sarah schooled herself down to her usually impassive gaze, though with Harry- her eyes always held a softness and warmth. She smirked, raising a brow.
"Why? Plan to track down my lineage and get something similar?" She teased, but Harry shrugged.
"If you wanted, I would try." He admitted, softly running a thumb over the framed photo again. Sarah frowned.
"No," she said, her eyes glazing over as she thought. Quietly, she added, "I don't think I care about them much."
It was true. Sarah didn't hold much regard for where she came from. As far as she was concerned, the only family she ever had was right here. Maggie and Harry were all she needed or wanted. She also held some resentment to her birth parents, for they had purposefully left her in that orphanage. And that was something Sarah didn't think she could ever forgive them for.
Harry, sensing his friend's inner turmoil, decided to lighten up the conversation.
"So, does this mean you can finally explain quidditch to me?" He asked. Sarah's gaze came back to the present, and she gave a small smirk.
"It's only the most brutal and amazing game that the Wizarding World has to offer. And I have a feeling you are going to love it."
September first came in practically no time. Sarah and Maggie picked up Harry from the Dursley's and made their way to King's Cross Station. Sarah contained herself well while Harry looked terrified.
"You'll have to board the train through Platform Nine and Three Quarters. It's a bit interesting to get to, but don't you worry." Maggie said, making sure they both had all their things as they hustled. The woman warned them not to dally as the train left soon.
They had run into a family at the entrance of the platform, and all of them made their way inside. Of course- Maggie knew them. Who didn't the bubbly, frizzy-haired witch know?
"Did she forget we were in a hurry?" Harry asked Sarah as they watched her catch up with the red-haired witch who stopped herding her family through King's Cross in order to chat with Maggie. Sarah leaned back to him.
"Maggie knows half of the U.K I swear." Sarah mulled over the times she had gone to any wizarding community with the woman. She spent more time looking around on her own while Maggie chatted with others.
"Honestly, Mum could talk for hours too." One of the younger boys piped up. Sarah glanced over to see twin boys rolling their eyes at their parent.
"Honestly woman, we haven't got all day!" One said. The woman scolded him as Maggie turned to Sarah and Harry.
"Okay you two! This is perfect, all you'll need to do is walk straight at the barrier here to get onto the platform." Maggie said, gesturing to a solid wall. Sarah frowned.
"Aren't you coming in?" Sarah asked as some of the boys went through the barrier. Maggie nodded, gesturing to the platform again. Going through the wall and onto the platform had been flooring for Harry, but to Sarah it made her feel squeamish. She had to close her eyes to force herself to run at it.
It was practically in the blink of an eye that Sarah found herself a bit overwhelmed. She couldn't imagine how Harry felt, being the center of attention once people heard Harry Potter was on the train with them. They had just loaded their things, some of the boys from earlier helping them while Maggie arrived.
It finally came time to part, and all three thought now was the best time as they had a moment of peace.
"Thank you, Maggie." Harry said, smiling. To his surprise Maggie scooped them both into a hug. Sarah huffed, feeling embarrassed as she was in public. Maggie let them go and looked between the two.
"Best head out now loves. And don't forget to write! Make good use of Harry's gifts!" she said, gesturing to the fancy quill set she had bought for Harry's birthday. Sarah gave one last look to Maggie, a small smile on her face as she held back tears. Then she turned and headed onto the train.
Sarah and Harry found a compartment, and while Harry listened to the Weasley's converse just outside the train, Sarah remained where she could see Maggie for a while, feeling abandonment rear its ugly head again as she watched the woman fade as the train took off. She had to remind herself she was leaving Maggie, and not the other way around.
"It's alright Sar, we can write letters to her. And you're free to use Hedwig whenever you want." Harry assured her, to which Sarah nodded stiffly as she sat back in her seat, silent. Harry knew she was just trying not to cry, as she had always been so hesitant about showing emotions in public.
The door to their compartment opened, and one of the boys from earlier walked on.
"Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full."
Sarah ignored him while Harry nodded. The boy made his way in, while the twins from before also arrived.
"Oi, Ron, listen. Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula." One twin said.
"We're going to the middle of the train." The other replied. Ron mumbled a reply before the twins looked at Harry and Sarah.
"Oh, hello Harry Potter," they said in unison before one spoke at a time. "We never introduced ourselves earlier. I'm George-" "-And I'm Fred-" "And this here is our younger brother Ron."
Ron perked up, looking at Harry then while the twins looked at Sarah.
"And who might this young lady be?" They asked in unison. Sarah turned, her face completely neutral.
"Sarah Williams." she said quietly. They grinned and gave a bow, which didn't break her mask at all.
"Pleasure Sarah," they spoke over each other again.
"We'll be off now."
"Cheers." They closed the door, leaving them in quiet for a moment.
"Are you really him?" Ron asked, staring openly at Harry.
"Who?"
"Harry Potter." Ron said. Harry bit back a grimace.
"Oh him, yeah I'm him." He said, sounding a bit meek. Ron went to open his mouth again, but his eyes grazed over to Sarah and his mouth snapped shut.
"Blood hell." He whispered, seeing the stony glare she was giving him. He'd be lying if he said it didn't spook him just a little how sharp her glare was.
Harry knew Sarah was only acting this way to try and ease his embarrassment, so he attempted to change the subject.
"Are your whole family wizards then?"
Sarah stared out the window quietly, not very interested in the red-headed boy and his ranting about being given second-hand things all the time. For a moment Sarah entertained herself. Pretending to have lived a life with five brothers and a younger sister. She imagined it must've felt cramped and likened it to living at the orphanage. However, Sarah would be lying if she said she didn't miss the idea of being so close to another person while she slept.
Since the cramped quarters had been all she knew before living with Maggie- sans brief stints at other adoptive homes- Sarah had grown quite lonely at night. She never told Harry, but she had slept with five large stuffed animals surrounding her to make her bed feel small and cramped. It was what brought her comfort, familiarity.
The door opened.
"Anything from the cart dears?" An older woman asked. Harry nudged Sarah, but she shook her head while Ron sheepishly said he had packed sandwiches. Harry left, and with the two being the only ones in the cart Ron couldn't help but let his eyes land on Sarah.
"Do you know him?" Ron asked suddenly. Sarah slowly looked over to him from the window. Impassively she gave a simple nod. Ron turned even more red at her lack of words. He could tell who was the talkative one between them, but there was something about Sarah that just made him plain nervous.
So, he rambled.
"Must be amazing, growing up knowing Harry Potter- oh but I heard he went to live with muggles. Are you muggleborn? I guess you never heard of Harry before this-" Ron shut his mouth promptly when Sarah snapped her eyes to him.
It was quiet for a beat.
"Doesn't matter." She said carefully, trying not to snap and feeling her ring burn. Sarah could see why Harry was so uncomfortable with being famous. She felt like she was standing next to an exhibit with the way people were talking about him and it pissed her off.
Ron's rat, Scabbers, squealed before diving between Ron and the cushion of the seat. Ron gulped as Harry returned with an armful of sweets. Sarah carefully raised a brow, making Harry grin at her as he dumped the sweets onto the seat. He picked up a bag of assorted sour candy before holding it out to Sarah.
Sarah huffed but took the candy without a word.
"Trying to bribe me already, Potter?" She teased, glancing at him as she popped one in her mouth.
"Is it working?" Harry asked, opening some of his own. Sarah didn't respond, instead glancing at Ron across from them, who was taking in the entire scene. Ron laughed as he watched Harry dig through the pile.
"Hungry?" Ron joked.
"Starved. Want some?" He offered, and after some initial hesitation Ron finally took some. He explained some sweets, and the pile beside Sarah grew as more sour candies were added.
Ron was convinced he was going to teach them some magic after a while, but the daisy rhyme barely left his lips before what Sarah could only describe as an insufferable know-it-all came into the compartment. It took all of two minutes before Sarah's glare came back, and the girl who aggressively introduced herself as Hermione Granger took one look at Sarah before excusing herself. Ron laughed.
"Merlin, that glare of yours is lethal." Ron said, and Sarah closed her eyes for a moment. Harry nudged her foot, and she let out a sigh before turning back to the window.
"What houses are your brothers in?" Harry asked, thinking about what Hermione said.
"Gryffindor, though it'll be a miracle if such a know-it-all isn't in Ravenclaw." Ron gave his own annoyance to the door, glaring at it lightly. "Though, I'd rather be anywhere but Slytherin."
Sarah snorted, imagining the red head in anything like the house that Cerus described was laughable at best. Ron looked at her as Sarah turned towards the two.
"What house is Cerus in?" Harry asked. Sarah let a hint of a smirk slip onto her lips.
"Slytherin." She looked at Ron then, feeling a sort of pride swell in her at his discomfort. "Imagine if the great Harry Potter were in Slytherin."
"Sarah!" Harry felt a bit embarrassed, but also some nerves. Ron gulped once, glancing at Harry before looking back to Sarah. The blonde ignored Ron and smirked a bit more to Harry.
"Maggie told me the hat puts you where you belong. It's just a house, Harry. Nothing more." She said easily, assuring the boy. Harry did feel himself settled a bit more, though Ron shook his head.
"There's not a dark witch or wizard who went back that wasn't in Slytherin." Ron pointed out but felt pinned as she turned to glare at him.
"As was Merlin, a muggle advocate. Or so many try to forget." she said firmly.
The door to the compartment opened again, and Sarah saw three boys step inside. One being lither than the other two, who were thick and mean looking. The lither one had an air of superiority as he stared down at Harry.
"So it's true then. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." He smirked proudly. "This is Crabbe and Goyle, and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Ron covered a laugh with a cough, earning a glare from Draco.
"Think my name's funny, do you? Let me guess who you are. Father always said the Weasley's had red hair, hand me down robes, and more children than they could afford." He noticed Scabbers crawling across Ron's lap and smirked again.
"Fitting pet."
Sarah scowled as he glared at her next. What's more was when she realized they had very similar features. Sarah's eyes were a much brighter grey, and her hair a few shades darker with curls, while his eyes were so pale, she almost couldn't see the steel grey, and his platinum blond hair was slicked back against his head.
"And who are you?" he asked, noticing how she eyed him with disgust. "Can't say I've seen you before. Must be a mudblood."
Sarah felt her ring burn as her glare intensified. Draco was unperturbed.
"You'll soon find that mixing with the wrong sort at Hogwarts is quite easy. But I can help you there." Draco said proudly, offering his hand to Harry. The dark-haired boy hadn't spoken the entire time, but he could feel the ire slipping from Sarah next to him and felt the exact same.
"I think I can figure out the wrong sort for myself, thanks." he said tightly, frowning.
While Draco turned pink, he didn't show his embarrassment. His poker face was nothing compared to Sarah's though, as she schooled herself once again, imagining the door sucking the three boys out of the compartment.
"Careful, Potter, or you'll go just like your parents," Draco withdrew his hand slowly, and Sarah toyed with her ring quietly. "Consorting with Weasley's and Hagrid is one thing, but mudbloods will only cause you more trouble. It's rather embarrassing to be seen with the likes of them, if you ask me."
Harry and Ron jumped up, ready for action.
"Say that again." Ron dared. Draco laughed, along with his cronies.
"You going to fight us, are you?" He couldn't see Sarah where she sat, but as she stood quietly, she was slightly taller than Harry and Ron. "I don't think we want to leave you though. We were just getting-"
"Get out." Harry said.
There was a loud snap as the three were shoved by an invisible force out of the door and slammed into the compartment door behind them. The three landed in a heap, with Draco on the bottom as he groaned from Crabbe and Goyle's combined weight on top of him. Their door rolled shut on it own then as Ron beamed at Harry.
"Bloody hell! I didn't know you could do that!" Ron shouted in awe as Sarah quietly sat, slipping her ring back on. It stung for a moment, and she wiped her nose unconsciously.
Harry, for the most part, didn't deny it was him, though he glanced at Sarah several times to see If it had been her. Sarah opted to ignore him as Hermione came in, though the blonde had to admit a twisted satisfaction and knocking those boys out of the compartment.
"I swear, everywhere people are acting like children. You lot best change into your robes soon, we're almost there." She looked at Sarah and quickly added. "The lavatory is down the hall on our left."
Hermione excused herself as Sarah agreed with the idea. She left, heading off to change before returning to the compartment to find the boys had changed.
As the train slowed to a stop, Sarah glanced at Harry, and as sharp grey met bright green, they felt their excitement rise.
They were finally here.
Sarah hadn't quite believed Harry when he said Hagrid was a giant. Evidently, he was a half giant, but still over twice their height. Her meeting Hagrid consisted of "Ah! Harry's been talkin' 'bout ye." and then he ushered them to follow.
Sarah, for the most part, was in absolute awe of the view of the castle as they sailed over. She couldn't wait for the chance to simply walk around the castle, remembering all the stories Maggie would tell her. Nothing that would 'ruin the experience' so Maggie said, but stories of how she and Atlas got into trouble all the time.
She was anxious to see the place that made Maggie's eyes shine with excitement.
They eventually made their way to Great Hall, with a witch named McGonagall describing the houses as she led them to the entrance. Sarah was only half listening, looking around rapidly at any little thing she could see.
"Sarah!"
The blonde looked over to see Selene making her way through the crowd. The girl grinned, feeling just as excited as Sarah was, only she didn't hide it nearly as well.
"Isn't this amazing? Oh, I heard you took the train, didn't see you at the station. What house do you suppose you'll be sorted into?"
Sarah hummed, wondering herself, then shrugged.
"I don't really care," she then paused and gestured between Harry and Selene. "By the way, Harry, this is Selene Sallow. And Selene, this is Harry Potter."
Selene's eyes widened with awe, but she reigned herself in and coughed once.
"Pleasure to meet you- em- sir." Selene stuck out her hand for Harry to shake, which he did, hesitantly. Sarah choked, trying to hold back a laugh as both Selene and Harry turned pink.
"Sir." Sarah mocked. Selene elbowed her in the ribs. The blonde barely felt it. Ron watched the entire exchange, miffed, as Selene whispered in Sarah's ear.
"You didn't say your friend Harry was Harry Potter." She said sharply but not harshly. Sarah remained neutral, though her eyes were practically laughing.
"Didn't I? Must've slipped my mind." She whispered back. She looked over to Harry, who watched the exchange curiously. It had been the first time her worlds had collided, and she hoped- silently, and albeit a bit greedily- that they were all in the same house.
Sarah briefly grabbed Harry's hand and gave it a squeeze, before letting go as McGonagall came back.
"Alright students. Form a line and follow me." She called. Sarah stepped into line between Selene and Harry, and they followed into the Great Hall. She found herself staring in awe at the ceiling, and at the four long tables that were present. One other long table was at the front of the hall, adorned by what could only be the professors.
Sarah watched McGonagall as she led them to stop just in front of that long table. She placed a four-legged stool, along with a decrepit old hat on top of it, in front of them.
All of them were a bit enamored as it began to sing. While it did, she felt a pair of eyes staring into her. To her left, she could see none other than Cerus Sallow smirking at her. She raised a brow, but otherwise said nothing other than holding her chin a bit higher as she waited for the hat to finish.
Once the sorting began, Sarah waited calmly for her turn. In truth, all that she wanted was to be in the same house as Harry and Selene, but that became rather impossible as Selene was sorted into Ravenclaw, and then Harry, after a moment of deliberation, was sorted into Gryffindor- as was Ron. Though there was chanting from the Weasley twins of 'We got Potter!' that had Sarah rolling her eyes.
"Williams, Sarah." McGonagall called. Sarah strode forward calmly, with her head held high. The last thing she saw before the hat dropped down over her eyes was Harry grinning up at her.
"Well well, you certainly have a lot on your mind." She heard a whisper in her ear. It was too quiet to be heard through the hall surely. "Plenty of courage, and a sharp mind. But loyalty, you have a great bit of loyalty to you. Though, putting you in Hufflepuff- no I dare say it would be wasted."
The voice mulled over its thoughts, and Sarah thought numbly of the houses and the song given. She felt confident that the hat would put her somewhere she would enjoy herself. And while the idea of being in a house by herself without any friends was off-putting, she supposed that her time would be filled enjoying the company of herself too with such a big castle to explore.
"But you do not enjoy isolation child. I see, you crave more. You crave that which you do not already have. I see it- it is in your blood like many before you. You have great ambition."
Sarah couldn't exactly agree, as she never saw herself as ambitious, but the sorting hat chuckled in her ear at her thoughts.
"You lie to yourself too much. I know exactly where you belong."
Sarah hesitated- and then the hat called out.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Y'all.
Boom! They're finally at Hogwarts!
Y'all this chapter felt so bit OML. But I'm just so happy now. There was a lot, and I probably should've made this two chapters but- damn I needed to get it out of the way.
So, Sarah is in Slytherin, big shocker there lol.
A rerminder this story is also on AO3 under the same pen name! I'm hoping to add drawings into the story over there once I figure that one out. I also need to figure out who would play Sarah, as I can't find anyone with an intense enough glare but also lovely eyes. I always pictured Sarah as 'prettier every year' type, so she's growing into herself a bit.
Anyways, hope y'all like it. if you can't leave a review- which I've been told is a problem with this story in some pm's- head over to AO3 and leave a comment!
Thanks again for reading.
Cheers
Iland Girl.