The Hogwarts Express clattered down the tracks, the sound familiar and comforting to Brooklyn. She looked out the window as the snow-covered landscape blurred by, a bittersweet feeling rising in her chest. Christmas was always a strange time for her family—filled with moments of warmth mixed with the weight of what was unsaid.
Fred and George were unusually quiet during the ride, a stark contrast to their usual boisterous selves. Brooklyn knew they were just as eager for the break, but part of her felt a sense of unease about going back home.
When the train finally reached King's Cross Station, Brooklyn slung her bag over her shoulder and followed the twins toward the platform. As soon as they stepped off the train, Fred and George turned toward her with wide grins.
"Don't go causing too much chaos without us, alright?" Fred said, pulling her into a tight hug.
"We'll miss you, Mclair," George added, flashing her a wink. "Don't forget us while you're home."
Brooklyn laughed softly, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving her friends behind for a few weeks. "I'll miss you both, too. Have a good holiday!"
The twins waved as they disappeared into the crowd with their parents. Brooklyn stood on the platform for a moment longer, watching them go, before she noticed her dad walking toward her.
Sam—her father. Brooklyn's heart dropped into her stomach as he neared, his face tight with some unreadable emotion.
"Hey, Brooklyn," he greeted her, his voice clipped.
"Hi, Dad," Brooklyn said, trying to hide the unease that had crept into her tone. She gave him a tentative smile, but his eyes didn't soften. Instead, his gaze flicked to the twins' retreating figures.
"I saw you with those Weasley boys," Sam said coldly. "You really shouldn't be hanging around with them."
Brooklyn frowned, taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Sam's expression hardened as he looked around before stepping closer. "You're already spending time with people like that, huh? The Weasleys are a mess, Brooklyn. They're nothing but trouble. You need to stay away from them."
Confusion welled up inside her. "What do you mean by 'trouble'? Fred and George are my friends."
Sam scoffed, his lip curling. "Those Weasleys are dirty, Brooklyn. They're a bad influence. You don't want to get tangled up in their nonsense."
Brooklyn's stomach turned, and she had to force herself to hold eye contact. "You don't know them like I do," she said quietly, though doubt started creeping in. Why was her dad being so harsh about them?
"I know enough," he muttered. "Just watch your back, alright? Don't let them pull you down."
Brooklyn wanted to argue, to defend her friends, but she couldn't shake the way her dad's words made her feel. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure, but it was difficult.
"I'll be fine, Dad," she said, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Sam didn't respond, instead turning away and walking toward the exit. Brooklyn stood still for a moment before following, her heart heavy as she watched him go. She couldn't help the knot forming in her stomach, the feeling that something wasn't right.
Christmas at home was always a bit tense, but this year felt particularly strained. Her mother, Elizabeth, was quieter than usual, almost withdrawn, though she tried her best to keep things normal for the holidays. Brooklyn couldn't help but notice the way her mom's eyes seemed distant, like she was trying to hide something.
It wasn't until a few days into break that Brooklyn got the news: her mother was pregnant with a fourth child. Brooklyn sat across from her mother at the kitchen table, her heart sinking as she processed the words.
"Pregnant?" Brooklyn repeated in disbelief. She glanced at her mother, who gave a weak smile.
"Surprise," her mom said, her voice shaky. "I know it's unexpected, but we'll manage."
Brooklyn could feel the weight of the moment, the unspoken worry hanging in the air. Another baby. Another mouth to feed, another burden on the already strained family.
"Is everything okay, Mum?" Brooklyn asked, her voice soft, though she already knew the answer. It wasn't.
Her mother nodded, but the exhaustion in her eyes was unmistakable. "I just… I'm trying to keep it together, Brooklyn. I need to get through this."
Brooklyn could feel her mother's unease, but she didn't know what to say. She couldn't help but feel the tension between them, the unspoken truth of their home life. But she smiled weakly, trying to be supportive. "We'll be okay," she said, though she wasn't sure if she was convincing herself or her mother.
As the days went by, Brooklyn spent more time with her younger siblings—Emily and Ryan—trying to make the best of the holiday. They were excited about the baby, blissfully unaware of the tension in the house. But Brooklyn couldn't shake the unease that kept growing inside her.
Her father, Sam, was drinking more than usual, his temper shorter, his patience nonexistent. Brooklyn could hear the arguments late at night, the angry words and harsh tones that echoed through the house. She tried to block it out, to focus on her siblings, but it was impossible to ignore, especially one night when Sam caught her out of bed.
The holidays felt more like a waiting game. She waited for her father to lose control, for the tension to boil over. But she kept up the facade, pretending that everything was fine. She spent time with her siblings, tried to make it feel like a normal holiday, but in the back of her mind, she couldn't escape the sinking feeling that it wasn't.
She wanted to be anywhere but home. She wanted to be back at Hogwarts, surrounded by her friends, where things made sense. She wanted to escape from the weight of her father's moods, from the pressure of the situation at home. But for now, she could only focus on keeping things as calm as possible.
The warmth of her family's excitement about the new baby didn't reach her heart. It couldn't, not with everything else weighing down on her.
The Hogwarts Express chugged steadily along the tracks, the rhythmic sound of the train's movement a strange comfort amidst the quiet hum of the students returning after Christmas break. The compartment was filled with the familiar buzz of excited chatter, but Brooklyn sat in the corner, her face pressed against the window as the snowy landscape sped by.
It had been a rough Christmas. Her father's increasing anger had cast a dark cloud over what was supposed to be a joyful time, and though she tried to push the memories to the back of her mind, the bruises on her arms and her black eye reminded her of the things she'd endured. She tried to put on a brave face for her friends, but the exhaustion in her eyes was clear.
The compartment door slid open, and Fred, George, Lee, and Angelina stepped in, all eager to catch up after the long break. The twins, wearing their usual mischievous grins, immediately noticed Brooklyn sitting by the window, barely acknowledging the bustle around her.
"Oi, Mclair!" Fred called out, walking toward her with his usual enthusiasm. But when he saw her face, his smile faltered. "What happened?"
Brooklyn straightened up quickly, forcing a small smile. "It's nothing," she said quietly, looking down at her lap. She hoped they wouldn't press further. "Just a bit of... a disagreement at home."
George, who had always been quick to notice things, frowned, his gaze lingering on her bruises. "Brooklyn, that doesn't look like nothing," he said gently, sitting down across from her. "What happened?"
Lee, his usual easygoing demeanor gone, looked at her with concern. "We've got your back, you know."
But Brooklyn couldn't bring herself to explain it. Her mind raced, but the words to explain what she had gone through wouldn't come. Not yet. She couldn't share this with them—not now, not like this.
She forced a lighthearted tone. "It's really nothing," she repeated, her voice soft. "I'm fine."
Angelina sat down beside her, clearly not convinced, but choosing not to press further. Instead, she offered Brooklyn a small, comforting smile. "Well, we missed you. How was the rest of your break?"
Brooklyn hesitated, then sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "My mum's pregnant again," she said quietly, keeping her gaze on her hands, avoiding their eyes. "But that's... that's it. I'm fine."
The twins, who had been on the verge of asking more, shared a quick glance before nodding. They were both clearly concerned but respected her silence.
Lee was the one who broke the quiet. "We're here for you, Brooklyn, whenever you're ready to talk."
Fred, always the one to try and lighten the mood, grinned. "Yeah, and if you need any distractions from whatever's going on, you know we've got plenty of pranks up our sleeves. The Crimson Terrors are always ready."
Brooklyn gave him a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks," she said softly. She appreciated the offer, but the weight on her chest felt too heavy to brush off with jokes and pranks. The truth was, she wasn't ready to talk about it. Not yet.
As the train rocked gently along the tracks, the conversation shifted to lighter topics—what had happened at home for everyone over break, the latest gossip at Hogwarts, and the upcoming start of the new term. For a while, Brooklyn let the chatter wash over her, grateful for the distraction, even if it was only temporary.
But as they drew closer to Hogwarts, Brooklyn felt the familiar knot in her stomach tighten. She wasn't sure how to deal with the changes in her life—how to reconcile the warm friendships she had here with the painful reality she faced at home. But she knew one thing: her friends—especially the twins—would always have her back, no matter what.
When the train finally pulled into the station, Fred and George were the first to leap to their feet, eager to get back to school. As the compartment door slid open, Fred turned back toward Brooklyn.
"Hey," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You're one of us, okay? Crimson Terrors. That doesn't just stop because things get tough. We're here."
Brooklyn nodded, swallowing back the lump in her throat. She was grateful for them, for all of them, and though she wasn't ready to share the full truth of what had happened, she knew she didn't have to. Not yet.
As they all gathered their things and headed toward the exit, Fred and George pulled her into a tight hug, the kind they reserved for their closest friends. It felt good to be held, to have someone look out for her, even if she wasn't ready to lean fully into it.
"Cheer up Mclair, we have a whole semester to enjoy," Fred said with a wink.
"Yeah, we've got some serious pranking to get to," George added, a mischievous grin returning to his face.
Brooklyn couldn't help but smile, even if it was a little forced. "I'll be there."
And as they made their way off the train and toward the castle, Brooklyn knew, deep down, that no matter what she faced at home, she had her friends. And that was enough for now.