CHAPTER TWO:
( train rides )

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NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE saying goodbye to their first-year children. In fact, not many people seem to be there at all. When news came out that the school would now be controlled by Death Eaters, many either ran or were forbidden to return to school. Venus stares sadly at the young children appearing afraid or puzzled about the lack of enthusiasm. They are not even at Hogwarts yet and the gloomy aura already mocks Venus. How is she going to spread love and positivity in this environment? Truthfully, she does not know— and perhaps even the happy Hufflepuff students would not be the same in spirit— but she has to try. Her lips purses thinly before blinking numerous times to get rid of her teary eyes and places a kind smile on her face. Right when she feels herself ready, Venus began entering the Hogwarts Express. Her equipment stays close to her body while she walks through the long corridors searching for some of her friends.

It does not feel right that many compartments are rather empty or barely has one person in them. She is shock at how completely different everything is compared to her first-year. Years ago it had been absolute excitement everywhere and in people's inside. Lights gleaming in happiness and cheerfulness. Voices loudly overlapping one another. This time it is the complete opposites. Whispers being commonly heard over the older students. A look of judgement passing through everyone's eyes.

There is a lot more Slytherins than she has seen before (well, not more but with many students gone...) most whom she recognizes easily. A few Hufflepuff students roam around (and yet she could not see Ty) while Ravenclaw and Gryffindor seem to have the same amount of them. Tired of walking around the corridors, she releases a hefty sigh and instead heads into the first compartment in her view. Her eyebrows raises in questioning as she notice a lone and familiar Slytherin by himself. With her arrival, he briefly glance up and quickly eyes her before rolling his dark eyes. Venus did not take much offense to it since she knows exactly how the boy usually tends to be.

"Zabini," she greets all the same, a smile still on her lips despite it being a Slytherin who practically does not care if muggles lives or not, "Mind if I join you?"

"Yes, I do mind," Zabini sighs with clear annoyance. His glare only deepens when she freely sits across him and fully ignores his words. Venus simply shows her teeth in appreciation and takes out one of her poetry books. The Slytherin narrows his eyes as he read the title of her book and then scoffs. This in turn makes her look up and give him a blank stare. "You do realize they'll burn that book if they see it, right?"

Venus raises an eyebrow. "That's the first time I've heard you say more than five words! You have a nice voice, by the way," she acknowledges in surprise. Then, recalling his question because of how he scowls at her, she answers, "And yes, I do know what they'll do, but guess what?"

The Gryffindor girl grins as she taps her wand to the book and it changes into Hogwarts: A History in matter of seconds. "Magic... exists! But don't tell anyone, cool?" Venus dramatically reveals, placing her index finger on her lips.

Zabini seems to be conflicted whether appearing amused or annoyed and instead returns back to staring out the window. Venus rolls her own eyes before shifting them back to the poem.

I longed for real silence
the kind you can't find—

"Oh, there you are, Blaise! I was trying to find you or Draco," a familiar girl's voice makes Venus stare up again. Well, there goes her own plan of doing some poetry reading. Pansy Parkinson sits beside Zabini without hesitation and only seems to notice her presence when she stares straight ahead. An unpleasant expression reaches her face as the two of them make eye contact. "What is she doing here?"

Pansy Parkinson, in Venus's opinion, is a rather annoying Slytherin who has been belittling herself over Draco Malfoy, a known Death Eater and also Harry's old rival. Daughter of two Death Eaters parents herself and with a common rivalry between Harry and Hermione. She is quite vain— as is Zabini— and while Venus does not tend to acquaint herself with them, she is sure they knew her name for always being so 'disruptive' as Professor Snape claims. Returning back to the Slytherin girl, she has to admit that no matter how rude and ignorant she thinks Parkinson is, the girl is quite pretty. Ever since the first year, Parkinson had her hair short (did not even past her shoulders) and in a bob-shaped. As the years passed, it began growing little-by-little with it now being a perfectly good medium length. It look nice, but Venus found herself missing how the short hair seems to fit her much more nicely.

"I haven't had a clue," Zabini replies dryly. Venus snaps out of her own thoughts to refocus on reality. Instead of becoming a victim to his sneers and whatnot, Venus gracefully smiles at the girl opposite of her, completely catching her off-guard. "We're friends," she chirps uncaringly.

The Slytherin male shoots her another glare. Meanwhile, Parkinson rolls her eyes in obvious disbelief. "As if. I would know," she counters easily, sending Zabini a knowing look. Much to her dismay, Zabini only glares at her in return and roughly comments, "No, you wouldn't."

Parkinson sent him an offended look and then huffs in annoyance as he continues, "I'm not friends with you." This time it is directed to the Gryffindor herself who only found it best to chuckle in amusement.

She places her book down and then leans in forward to the two of them. "Have you ever thought about taking drugs?" After a few seconds, she began giggling to herself at their incredulous expressions.

The other girl scrunches up her nose. "Is that why you always smile, Thomas? You're taking those muggle drugs?"

Venus gives her a smirk. "No, but I could get you two some if you want," she answers with a short wink. Before the two Slytherins could reply, Venus notices a familiar figure quickly speeding by. She stands up in glee before grabbing her equipment and sending a wave to the pair of them. "See you at the Great Hall!"

Unaware of the comment made by Parkinson to Zabini after she left, Venus finds herself following Lizette Lewis into whatever compartment she found. Her best friend gasps when the curly-haired girl gently grasp her arm and then releases a sigh of relief when she notice who it was. Venus could not describe the surge of ease that came upon her when she realizes that for her last year at Hogwarts, she would not be alone. Sure, she will now worry about the safety of her friends, but still— just them being there gave herself hope (one she wishes she could share). It was then she notices that someone else is in the compartment. Two more people, to be exact. Her smile widens at the appearance of Ty and Seamus, giving them quick short hugs before placing herself beside Lizette.

Lizette Lewis is a housemate of hers and also her best friend since first-year. With auburn-colored hair and light blue eyes, Lizette is one of the most beautiful girls she has ever seen that for the first few weeks of knowing her, Venus truthfully believed she was part Veela. However, that turned out to be fake and Lizette is just naturally beautiful in every way possible.

Tiberius McLaggen is nowhere near similar to his brother as people can be. While Cormac (how unfortunate to have him as his brother) prides himself in being the best at everything (when he truly isn't), his brother turned out to be the introvert one who would occasionally apologize for Cormac's odd behavior. Calm, patient, and mostly modest since he apparently knows all these famous relatives of his and yet does not brag like Cormac. Brown hair that fell flat to his head unless it had some type of gel in it to keep it up. In Venus's opinion, he was much more attractive than Cormac will ever be whether it is by personality or physical attributes.

Beside him sat Seamus Finnigan, another housemate of hers and also someone she recognizes as her cousin's best friend. He was still in the friend group, but it was rather odd not seeing him with Dean... so, Seamus did decide to stay here than run away. Probably safer for Dean too. Venus is not stupid— she knows something must have gone between them, but all the same she shouldn't be assuming. Except, it is easy to see the love in their eyes when they either talk to one another or there is a mention of their name. Venus hopes it is not just her imagination and that one of her best friends and her cousin would tell her one day (if it is true or not).

"Where were you?" Lizette questions curiously, leaning into the window's side with her arms wrapped around herself. Unlike the unpreparedness girl Venus tends to be, her best friend always makes herself presentable and organized. Before the curly-haired girl could answer her, she quickly tilts her chin up as she sees some sort of glooming figure almost looking like a dementor— except this time an actual figure took its place. Her immediate reaction had been to reach for her wand and she glares hotly at the two Death Eaters making their way past the corridor.

Everyone silences up in a matter of seconds and Venus clenches her jaw in anger as she spots them nearby. Her attention goes to Neville Longbottom, a housemate of hers in the same year, who stands up and firmly announces, "He isn't here."

No one had to question who the he is. It is clear to all of them why they arrive in the middle of the Hogwarts Express. Were they stupid enough to believe that Harry would return because school is mandatory? The two Death Eaters march among them having ignored the statement rather than keeping it as fact. In annoyance, she waves her wand and internally casting a spell before an adorable-looking teddy bear became visible. Venus clears her throat and dramatically calls out, "Oh, shit? Is that Harry!?"

As expected, the two men practically sprint their way toward her with their wand out while she reaches down to grab the soft plush. "I thought I lost you, Harry," Venus cries, hugging the bear tightly against her chest. She does not bother glancing up knowing that the Death Eaters had their wands aimed against her— pretending she does not take notice that they were in her view excitedly before a cold glare was sent her way. Lizette sighs in disappointment of her attitude (she has a feeling that is not going away anytime soon) while the rest of her friends awkwardly and fearfully look away.

Venus finally chooses to look up and fakes a gasp. "I'm sorry, sir. My bear's name is Harry... after Harrison Thomas, an old relative of mine who passed away from Chicken Pox. I don't think Potter is here," the Gryffindor easily makes up the story, shining them an innocent face. The two of them deepen their glare before stomping away. After making sure they were inaudible, Venus smirks to herself while the others gave her a look.

"What? Why do you guys think I came back?"

She crosses her arms firmly, leaning back on her seat with a dark look on her eye. This— Venus knows— was just the beginning.

▂✫⌒*･ﾟ

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
venus is a lil shit with good intentions and
will do so many things purposely while
acting dumb&smart all at the same cuz she's
gonna want the kids to see her as some
entertainment :) anyway, u know i gotta
add my love blaise into this 😙✌️