CHAPTER ONE
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KING'S CROSS STATION was bustling with proud parents waving goodbye to their children. Winona was not granted that privilege - her mother had made it a rule to stay far away from anything wizarding world-related. Not that Winona minded, or convinced herself she didn't.

Even after more than four years, the Hogwarts Express still felt a bit intimidating. Students laughed with their cluster of friends, giving dramatic explanations of their summer adventures. Intimidation turned into excitement as Winona remembered she was going to see her friends again. After weeks of being out of the country - assisting her mother on a research trip for her newest novel - Winona was relieved to finally be home.

Just as she peered through the compartments to find her friends, Winona's phone buzzed in her pocket. Rox is waiting outside the compartment for you!!! She's the one wearing the clown wig, a text from Molly Weasley read. Winona laughed and just as her head snapped up - a smiling Roxanne Weasley was waving at her.

The two girls ran to the other and soon enough Winona's arms were wrapped around Roxanne. "You're late, Cruella," Roxanne said with a playful smile. The nickname was given to Winona in their third year by no other than the oldest Potter boy. Winona did her best to not think about him this early in the morning.

Roxanne was the only daughter of George and Angelina Weasley and twin to Fred Weasley II. She had her mother's looks, passionate love for Quidditch, and the chaotic Weasley nature most of the Weasley-Potter family had. Her adventurous nature landed her in detention a few times, but as the daughter of the famous George Weasley, it was expected.

"And you're wearing a clown wig," said Winona, "Perhaps not the best time to be critical."

Winona followed Roxanne down the aisles to another compartment down the way. Once they reached their destination, Roxanne helped Winona with her luggage and the two girls took their seats. The two other occupants of the compartment sat across from them.

Molly Weasley huddled against the wall in the compartment with a sleeping Maurine Wood's head on her shoulder. Red waves of hair braided into a crown, small baby hairs framing her face. She was the oldest daughter of Percy and Audrey Weasley, which meant she was also the most strict of the family. Her younger sister Lucy was more of a rule-breaker, but Molly took after her father. However, her heart of gold saved the reputation of many students as Molly couldn't bear to see others face such harsh consequences. Most of the time.

"I would hug you, but you know how Maurine gets when she doesn't get her full eight hours." She whispered.

"I can hear you," Maurine said loudly. She sat up and fixed her crooked glasses. "Proceed with the hugging."

Winona didn't like this one bit. "Don't you dare-" All three girls tackled their muggle-born friend and drowned her in what felt like an endless sea of hugs. Winona felt like she couldn't breathe but she was grateful for it. In the weeks she was gone Winona missed her friends more than anything in the world. She missed Molly's vibrant nature, the sound of Roxanne's obnoxious laugh, and Maurine's constant conversation about the newest members of her favorite Quidditch team.

She was home.

Once the three girls detangled themselves from their friend Winona finally had the chance to ask, "Why are you wearing a clown wig?"

Roxanne laughed before saying, "Lost a bet to Fred." The Weasley twins were always in friendly competition and Fred had a two-year-long winning streak. "I'll get him next time."

Maurine did not look convinced."You always say that and Fred always wins."

Roxanne dramatically tore off the wig and looked Maurine in the eye as she said, "Argue with the wall."

"How was your holiday, Nona?" Molly asked.

"Boring, mostly. Mum and I spent most of our days researching in old libraries and historical landmarks." Winona's mother was a well-known romance author, a favorite of millions across the world. Her newest book was set in America during the Revolutionary War. Louise Moore-Davis was a visual learner, and she wanted to get a better perspective of her novel's setting. Winona's mother packed their trunks for a research trip to America. Winona was reluctant to go, but America was her mother's home country and it had been more than two decades since her mum left America. It was a great opportunity to bond, but for most of it, Winona's mother acted as if her daughter wasn't there.

"I cannot wait for your mum's new book!" Molly exclaimed. It was common knowledge that Molly Ginerva Weasley loved romance. Every week she read a new romance novel and she always gushed about said romance novel.

"Don't worry, Mol, my mum already said she's giving you an advanced reader's copy before Christmas." Winona smiled happily at her, "Advanced reader's copy with bonus scenes."

"Yes, but to have to wait three months for one of your mum's books is like sitting in a cell in Azkaban for three months."

"You'll survive," Maurine said.

Roxanne laughed, "She will not."

An hour passed and the Hogwarts Express was on its way to the wizarding school. While buying sweets from the trolley, all four girls made themselves comfortable. In those hours, when the train was on its way to Hogwarts, all four girls treated the small compartment as a second home. A place where only the four of them existed.

Winona unwrapped a cauldron cake from its package."Anything interesting happen while I was away?"

Molly beamed. She liked knowing the latest gossip within her own family. Something about "it's always good to know before the Daily Prophet does!" or something along those lines, Winona couldn't remember. "James and Charlotte broke up!"

"I almost forgot about that," Roxanne muttered as she chewed a chocolate frog.

"What happened?" Winona asked. The Potter boy's love life was the least of her concerns, but this caught her interest.

"I heard they were fighting all summer," Roxanne told her.

"Well, Lily says Charlotte left the Potter house shouting at James, then Aunt Ginny came home and told her to leave," Molly explained.

Roxanne nodded. "I heard Fred and James talking before we left the Burrow today, apparently Charlotte hasn't stopped sending him letters. Uncle Harry had to write to her parents to tell her to stop."

Molly sighed, "Maybe this year things will improve for young love."

Winona smiled at that. Molly's musings about romance could save the most loveless couple from a life of despair. Winona quite liked that about her friend.

Maurine frowned. "I hope this year things improve for me. I absolutely cannot go back home with another losing season." The year before, the Hufflepuff Quidditch team lost to Ravenclaw for the second year in a row. "The only child of a legendary Quidditch player losing to the Ravenclaws! What a joke!"

Winona reached for Maurine's hand and took it, "Your dad is still proud of you whether you win or lose, you know."

Maurine squeezed Winona's hand as she said, "I'm not sure about that." she said sadly, tears started to swell in her eyes.

The Wood family was mad about Quidditch, mostly Maurine's dad. Their stories of loving and playing Quidditch for all those years were what drove her to become the best Quidditch player she could be. Maurine lived off of making her parents proud. But with every losing season, she lost confidence in herself and the sport.

"Please tell us you're joking!" Roxanne exclaimed. All eyes went to her. "When we went to see you after Christmas your dad would not stop talking about how proud he was."

"Yeah, and that was after we lost to the Ravenclaws, of all people!" Molly added.

Winona turned to her friend and said softly, "From what I can tell, he's happy and proud of you because you're doing what you love." Winona smiled. "Whether you're losing or winning, we're all proud of you, Maurine."

Maurine smiled and looked at each of her best friends as she said, "Thank you."

Winona suspected that all the attention was starting to bother Maurine. She looked uncomfortable with all eyes on her. She swiftly changed the subject. "I just hope the Ravenclaws tone it down with the pranks this year."

Maurine mouthed a subtle, Thank you.

Winona continued, "For third years the Scamander twins are just as ruthless as the Weasleys, no offense."

Molly smiled with pride.

"We understand," Roxanne agreed, "staying under the same roof as Fred, James, Louis, and Lily is dangerous." Every summer the Weasley-Potter children spent numerous days at the Weasley Burrow with their grandparents. Whatever pranks and tricks they pulled at Hogwarts was nothing compared to what shenanigans happened at the Burrow.

Molly laughed, "Remember when Fred set off fireworks under the dinner table at Christmas."

Roxanne shuddered at the memory. "Vividly."

The girls started talking about pranks and Winona returned to her worries. Sixth year meant choosing a career. Every sixth-year student was to make a career choice and Winona dreaded the idea. All her hard work was finally going to be worth something now and she didn't even know what to do with it. She told herself she needed to be the best to get ahead. To prove that having a strained relationship with her mum was meant for something. Attending a school where magic was welcomed meant something. Spending the rest of her life in a community that saw her as odd was supposed to mean something. But she didn't know what.

Winona looked out the window. A sea of green and puffy clouds stared back at her. Sixth-year would be met with the same obstacles and the same people. Among all of those people would be an obstacle named James Sirius Potter. Just the thought of him made her jaw clench. "Let this be a normal year," she said to no one but herself.

Roxanne smiled, "I seriously doubt it."