╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ♡ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
OFF TO NEVERLAND
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ♡ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

THE MARAUDERS AND LILY watched in amusement as Gambit tried to navigate through the crowds herself.

Luckily, Sirius managed to catch her wrist and gently pull her close to the group.

"We need you a wand first! Let's go to Ollivanders, he's got the most finest wands every wizard can have," he opened the doors, ringing the bell and summoning the bizarre old man.

His white hair fell as he smiled at Gambit--the girl smiling back.

"Seems only yesterday when your parents bought their first wands, Ms Gaunt," he stepped down his ladder, choosing among the boxes of wands,

"You recognize me?"
Gambit asked as he lets out an ah, sliding a box towards her.

"Eyes like your mother's, smile like your father's. Too recognizable,"

He opened the box, giving her a wand.

She waved it cautiously, the light bulb smashing,

"Oh, maybe not..."

He said, off to find another wand.

Gambit apologized, putting the wand back quickly, making her friends laugh softly.

The man came back with another, giving it to the girl again as she waved it once more.

The lights flickered, things atop of table shook. The man smiled contently,

"Brothers with your mother's. You're best suited for this wand," he smiled, kicking the shards of glass away, "She too, had a dragon heartstring core."

Gambit nodded, understanding what dragon heartstring meant.

The group left the shop after paying seven galleons for the wand. Off to buy their books from Flourish and Blotts.
⠀

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⠀

Each of them carried the heavy books, James pushed Gambit towards Magical Menagerie. The two separated from the group as the rest of them waited outside.

The couple looked around for Gambit's perfect pet while she'll be at Hogwarts, and James had settled on a cat.

"Excuse me, miss? D'you mind telling me what breed of cat this is?"
James pointed towards the cat with a grey coat with stripes of blue-ish hues. It's tail was similar to a lion's with large ears.

"This cat has Kneazle blood. Very intelligent and I've taught it to not be aggressive."
The woman explained as Gambit approached them,

"Is it purebred?"
James questioned,

The lady shook her head, explaining it's mother was half-Kneazle and it's father was pure.

James looked at Gambit, asking if she'd like it,
"D'you want to get him?"

"Her, actually."

"Her, I meant her."
James corrected himself, seeing Gambit nodding.

The woman took the cat and gently put it inside a cage, handing it over to Gambit as the young girl paid.

"Have a wonderful day, darlings."

She waved as they both left,

James offered to carry the cat for her, but Gambit said no thank you.

The boy gave her a toothy grin, offering his hand towards her.

"Alright, Let's go!"

"To where?"

"Someplace you can call Neverland."

He dragged her--running past their friends as they chased after the two. Laughing as they went to King's Cross station.

Gambit was shocked that James had remembered about Neverland while she talked about it a few days prior, her heart warmed up as her lungs pricked her insides as she slowly lost breath from running.
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⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
Gambit pushed her own trolley--her trunk, cat and things aboard it. They stopped in front of a wall between platforms nine and ten,

"All you do is run through there," Remus pointed towards the wall, "You won't get hurt, I promise."

She was afraid, but she exhaled. A running start as she closed her eyes, bracing for impact but nothing came of it.

James followed her. Remus, Peter, Lily and Sirius almost tumbling all of them down as they got out of the way.

Parents and first years were frantic as they said goodbyes, wizards hoarded the place as Gambit looked around, mouth hung open.
Standing between Sirius and James as the others surrounded her.

Handing their tickets over--including Gambit's ticket before she wore the cloak--they boarded the train, following Sirius closely as he leads them to an empty compartment.
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⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
They sat down, almost all of them asleep as Lily helped Gambit changing into her robes. Tying her tie as the cloak laid on her lap,

"I can't believe we're doing this."
Gambit huffed in excitement, trying her best to stay still on her seat.

The sun was going down as Lily advised for them to sleep now, as it'll be much longer before they arrive at Hogwarts.

"As long no one sees your face, we'll have no trouble," Lily parted the brunette's hair to make it cover her face as the two closed their eyes, Lily resting her head on Gambit's shoulders.
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⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
Gambit opened her eyes and saw a curly blonde sitting in front of her, laughing with the others.

"Oh you're awake! Hi, I'm Marlene Mckinnon. I love the gloves you gave me," she smiled, dimples showing.

"Hi.. I'm--erm.. Gambit Gaunt. You're welcome,"
The brunette yawned afterwards, looking out the window to see the smoke coming from the train as the moon had began to dawn.

The teens talked, about their Professors, the school subjects and newts? Gambit got lost in the conversation as she ate some sweets from the Trolley--some chocolate frogs and liquorice wands
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⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
The train came to a stop, Gambit quickly put the cloak over her as they waited for all the other students to leave. Peter had said their things will be in Hogwarts once they arrive and they all went out the train.

Gambit got tired of the cloak and took it off, reassuring them no one will bother looking at her.

They lined up, boarding carriages-the Marauders got in another carriage as Lily, Marlene and Gambit got in another, already having one student.

"Hello,"
The boy with platinum hair smiled,

"Hi,"
The girl's said, sitting down as the carriage began moving by itself.

"I'm Xenophilius Lovegood. Ravenclaw,"
He waited for their answers, as his brittle and soft voice echoed in their ears--almost Hypnotizing them.

"Marlene Mckinnon and Lily Evans, both Gryffindors."
The blonde smiled, shaking his hand.

Gambit sat silent, avoiding making eye contact.

"What's yours?"
Xenophilius looked straight at her, noticing her shifting gaze.

"I'm... Gam--Gambit Gaunt. Slytherin...?"

She want sure if she was Slytherin, she just wore the uniform to fit in.

The boy smiled, seemingly to understand the situation.

"I'm a little famished, I do hope there's pudding."
He talked to himself, brushing his hair behind his ear.