❝ tick tick train ! ❞

Unfortunately, Euphemia's last month at Privet Drive did not go well. Bethany barely spoke to her. And even if she did, it was mostly about her upcoming plans and maybe a bit about tidying the house. She couldn't really blame Bethany. The housekeeper hadn't come back since her holiday.
Every day, it just felt as if Bethany lived in terror. And Euphemia hated that! Bethany was punishing her for who she truly was.

Euphemia and Bethany had come to a mutual conclusion, that they were going to say that she was going to study in a Boarding School for better education. Euphemia's friends were disheartened but understood. It was not as if they were really close. Euphemia was specifically close to Belle, who had unfortunately shifted.

Euphemia started staying in her room for longer periods of time. Bored, she had picked up a book to learn more about the wizarding world and had learnt some of its slang. She was glad she didn't have to study more chemistry. It was eating her head.

Euphemia had named her owl, Tweety.

It just suited her. She was one of the most adorable birds Euphemia had ever seen. However, Tweety was really impatient, especially when it came to food. After feeding the little bird a large chunk of steak, she wrote a letter to Harry. Harry's owl, Hedwig had also flown by and had eaten some dinner. Post that, she flew back to the Dursleys and gave the letter to Harry.

As each day passed, September 1st came closer and closer.

On the last day of August, Euphemia had gotten up early, so she could catch up with Bethany and talk to her about getting to Kings Cross.

Bethany had just finished her morning tea and was reading her daily book.

Euphemia cleared her throat. "Mrs Williams," it was still awkward to call her that.

Bethany hummed to show she was listening.

"Since I'm going to Kings Cross tomorrow to go to Hogwarts, is it possible for you to give me a lift?"

Mrs Williams chuckled, "I thought they had magic carpets to teleport them."

"They do," Euphemia nodded, "it's not for the students though. Maybe I could get them arranged, you would surely love it!"

Bethany gave Euphemia a sharp look.

"Where even is this school?"

"Scotland, maybe."

"Maybe?" Bethany slowly repeated, "you're going on a maybe?"

"I'll look into it again. I forgot,"

"Ah yes," she clapped her hands dramatically, "you forgot. Of course." She took a sip of her tea and asked, "Which platform is the train on?"

"It said nine and three quarters."

Bethany snorted. "That's rubbish."

"It's said on the ticket."

"Bullshit!" Bethany retorted, "you sure you still want to go to Hogwash dearie? Sounds like a bit of a problem if you ask me."

"Yes mother," she rubbed her forehead.

"Well then I can't really say anything can I," said Bethany, "I'll take you to Kings Cross myself! That'll ought to teach you a lesson. Tomorrow, 8 am sharp, be ready."

*   *   *

Euphemia couldn't really sleep much last night. She had woken up early, six am to be precise. After eating some cereal, she cleaned the dishes and went back to her room.

The train journey could be tiring. She tried to put on the most comfortable outfit she had. Her favourite pair of white shoes and a denim dungaree over her white shirt. She chose not to wear her school robes in a muggle station, considering they were muggles. . .

She had finished her packing and was doing her final checklist. It was nearly eight when Euphemia had sent in a letter to Harry. As Tweety came back into her bedroom, she put her back into her cage and went down to load her trunk into the car. She came back running into her room and grabbed her locket, the one which she always seemed to forget.

Bethany helped Euphemia load all the trunk and the bird on the car and started driving towards Kings Cross, in silence.

*   *   *

They reached King's Cross half-past ten. Mrs Williams dumped Euphemia's trunk and cage into the cart and helped her reach platform eight. Unfortunately, she had to leave her alone, considering she had to be somewhere urgently. It genuinely surprised Euphemia when she just gave her a pat on her back and left.

Euphemia wheeled her cart to platform 9 and then platform 10. Where was platform nine and three quarters?

As she went around, looking and asking one of the guards, they sent her weird looks and said that they never heard of it. Getting desperate, Euphemia asked for the train that left at eleven o'clock, but the guard said there wasn't one.

It was hard for Euphemia to not panic. It was nearly 10:50 and she had no idea how to get onto the platform.

I wonder how Harry must have reached the platform.

Euphemia was thinking of tapping the bricks with her wand as Hagrid did for Diagon Alley, however, just at that moment, two people passed just behind her and he caught a few words of what they were saying.

" —packed with Muggles— "

Euphemia swung around. The speaker was a blonde man talking to the same boy she bumped into the other day.

Desperate, she yelled, "Excuse me! Blondie! The man with blonde hair! With the trunk!"

Everyone started looking towards her weirdly, "What are you all looking at! Mind your business! It's a Monday!"

As both the man and the kid looked towards Euphemia, they saw Euphemia pushing her cart and practically running towards them.

"You're going to Hogwarts right! I mean, we just met the other day in Diagon Alley and I don't think you remember but we agreed to sit together!" Euphemia rambled, "I just have no clue where nine and three quarters is and I am freaking out! These people, oh especially that big stupid man looked as if I was from a mental asylum! Have you seen the bloody time— "

Reggie stopped Euphemia's ranting by putting a hand on her mouth. Both their eyes widened and he immediately retrieved it back.

"You're looking for the platform I assume?" The blonde man asked. Euphemia nodded.

"Not to worry—"

"Euphemia. Euphemia Potter." The man's face paled.

"Right." said the man coughing, "Not to worry," he said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Reggie."

"Er— okay," said Euphemia wearily.

She pushed her trolley around and stared at the barrier. It looked very solid. She started to walk toward it. People jostled her on their way to platforms nine and ten.

Euphemia walked more quickly. She was going to smash right into that barrier and then she'd be in trouble— leaning forward on his cart, she broke into a heavy run — the barrier was coming nearer and nearer— she wouldn't be able to stop— the cart was out of control— she was a foot away— she closed her eyes ready for the crash— It didn't come. . . she kept on running. . . she opened her eyes.

A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people.

A sign overhead said Hogwarts' Express, eleven o'clock.

Euphemia looked behind her and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it, she did it!

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats.

Euphemia waited for a minute for the people who helped her. As they emerged from the wall, grinning, they went together. Euphemia pushed her cart off down the platform in search of an empty seat. She passed two red-headed brother's who were muttering, "The Harry Potter! Did you see his scar"

Euphemia relaxed.

Thank God he found the platform.

She looked towards the man again who was talking to Reggie or most likely lecturing him. Walking towards them, Euphemia said, "Thank you for your help today sir— "

"Remus," the blonde man blurted "Remus Lupin. You can call me Remus."

"Thank you, Remus." He gave Euphemia a warm smile.

She went ahead and into the train. Passing the crowd, she tried finding an empty compartment, or maybe her brother's compartment, but she couldn't find either. Sighing, Euphemia opened another compartment.

A small boy with chestnut hair was leaning against the window, peacefully reading his book. A ginger cat, cuddling next to him.

He looked up for a second and gave her a small smile. "Hello!"

"Hi," Euphemia greeted, "do you mind? Everywhere else is full."

"Not at all!"

She pushed her trunk inside the compartment and put it right in the corner, placing it next to Tweety's cage and sitting opposite the boy.

"I'm Sam, by the way, Sam Hale."

"I'm Euphemia. Euphemia Potter."

Sam's eyes widened, "are you really?"

Euphemia nodded.

"I'm sorry," Mia furrowed her brows, "about your parents, I mean."

"Oh, thank— thank you, I guess,"

"Would you like chocolate?" Sam asked, pulling out a bar of chocolate.

"Sure!"

Dividing it into half, he gave her the piece and leaned against the window, almost lying down the seat.

"I love your owl," said Sam. He pets his ginger cat, "This is Cleopatra."

"Lovely name," said Euphemia as ate her chocolate bar. She asked, "so, are all your family wizards?"

"My mum is a wizard and my dad's a muggle. Guess that makes me a half-blood, Dad freaked out when mum told him she was a wizard. Though, it made all the chores easier at home," said Sam, chuckling.

"Guess you must know a lot about magic,"

"Nah, not really," said Sam, "we never really got to learn much, nothing as a pre-school. We all start from the same level, well most of us. It depends from parents to parents."

While they had been talking, the train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. They got to know each other quite well, and least to say they became good friends. They were quiet from time to time, enjoying the ride in silence as they watched the fields and lanes flicker past.

Around half-past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the trolley, dears? Perhaps some drinks. Pumpkin Juice, Marmalade—"

"What about the candies?" Sam interrupted, "the good ones?"

"We don't really have much left dear. Those boys took a load. You could always take the muggle candy!" said the woman.

Euphemia scowled. She was starving!

She heard Sam huff, "and where would their compartment ma'am?"

"Oh, just three compartments away. Generous child, he took almost everything."

Thanking the kind lady, Mia and Sam found the compartment. She saw wrappers on the floor and as she opened it she saw her brother eating candy with a freckled redhead and her station friend.

"Harry!" Euphemia gasped, "this is everything the Cart Lady was selling!"

Harry grinned apologetically, "I know! I just love 'em so much and wanted to try,"

The redhead on the side gasped, "You must be Euphemia Potter, I'm Ro—"

"Hush," Euphemia shushed him off. "How could you've taken all the candy!"

"We were starving!"

Euphemia's eyes trail towards Reggie who was eating like a dog, leaning closer towards Harry.

"I'm taking some with me!" She started grabbing a few chocolates, "Samuel help me out here."

"You are not going to be taking my candy Euphemia," Harry said in a deep voice, trying to be assertive.

"What's wrong with your voice mate?" asked Ron.

"What are you talking about? I always talk like this," Harry's voice got deeper and weirder.

"Do you really?" Reggie pursed her lips in amusement.

Mia and Sam filled a bag of candy and were getting out of the compartment, but were stopped by Harry. "No! You will not be taking our candy today!"

Euphemia rolled her eyes and walked away with Sam effortlessly as Harry continued protesting. They went back to their compartment and shoved all the goodies on one seat.

"What are these?" Mia asked, holding up a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

"You want to be careful with those," Sam warned her, "when they say every flavour, they mean every flavour— you know, you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get grass, liver and tripe."

Euphemia opened the clown-like box and tried one crystal blue jellybean. She popped it in her mouth and chewed, eventually scrunching her mouth in disgust, and pushed her tongue out.

"It's clay!"

Sam laughed and took the box from her, examining a green bean. "Must be grape," he muttered and swallowed.

"Ugh," he groaned, "how could I forget! It's grass!" He glared at the box, "do I look like a Herbivore to you!"

They continued exchanging the box and Mia held a blue coloured Pentagon box, stating 'Chocolate Frog.'

"Hey Sam," she kept eyeing the box, "are these actual frogs?"

"No," said Sam. "But see what the card is. Did you know that I've got your brother's card twice?"

"A what?!"

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know— Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect— famous witches and wizards. I've got about three hundred and eight."

Euphemia unwrapped her Chocolate Frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face. He was wearing red robes along with armour and had a sword in his hand. Underneath the picture, was the name, Godric Gryffindor.

Euphemia turned over her card and read:

𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫y𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫
( 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 )

One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Euphemia turned the card back over and saw, to her astonishment, Gryffindor's face had disappeared.

"He's gone!"

"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day," said Sam. "He'll be back. No, I've got Lockhart! Hate that man. . . Do you want it? You can start collecting."

She opened another one, and this time, caught the frog, shoving it straight into her mouth. She could feel her frog immediately melting into creamy, rich chocolate.

Glancing at her card, she noticed an old man, wearing a turban along with blue and yellow robes. His combed pearl coloured beard ironically stood amongst his frizzy hair.

"Armando Dippet," she read out loud, "he was the headmaster of Hogwarts for thirty-five years!"

"Brilliant right!"

The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. They had opened the windows slightly. They could hear the river gushing through the dark green hills. They were amongst the wildlife.

Sam thought it would be a good idea if they closed the window. It was getting dark really fast. They tried pushing it down, however, it didn't budge.

"Excuse me," they turned around and found a brunette standing by the door. "Do you need help with that?"

Sam and Euphemia nodded.

Giving them a small smile, she pushed her hand out of the window, pulling the ledge towards the left and the window slammed shut. She pushed the hook, making sure it was locked.

"Well, there you go!" She said, giving them a warm smile.

"Thank you so much," Euphemia said, shyly, "I'm Euphemia,"

"I'm Sam,"

"It's nice to meet you both," she said, "you both are first-year right?"

Mia and Sam nodded.

"I'm Amara. Fourth Year. You can always come to me if you need any help."

There was a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy with tearful eyes came in.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up," Mia comforted.

Neville sighed in sadness.

"I could help you out," Amara said, comforting him and bidding the two a goodbye.

Euphemia and Sam had pushed their legs onto the seats and were chatting randomly.

"Well, there are four houses,
Gryffindor— for the brave and reckless, Hufflepuff— for the kind and hardworking, Ravenclaw— for the creative and wise and Slytherin— for the cunning and ambitious," Sam stated. "I reckon I'll be either a Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw."

"I have no idea what I possibly could be in," Euphemia laughed and shrugged, "we're just eleven."

"Huh, I never really thought about it."

Euphemia swung her feet up and down in a swinging motion, "you reckon we could get expelled for bringing muggle stuff."

"What stuff?" Sam said slowly.

"I have my headphones and mixtape with me," Euphemia murmured.

"I actually don't really know," Sam frowned, "but we surely can't get expelled for it!"

"What about explosives?"

Sam looked dumbfounded.

"Huh?"

Euphemia pursed her lips and opened her trunk, taking out a bag. She opened it and showed it to him.

"I bought them from Gambol and Japes," Euphemia whispered, hoping no one hears their conversation, though whispering loudly. "These are dung bombs and fart bombs. They smell if I throw it on something or someone."

"I— " Sam stuttered, "I don't know Euphemia."

"Maybe if I don't show it to anyone, no one will ever know!" Euphemia said hopefully.

"It's too late for that darling,"

Euphemia shut her eyes tightly and hitched her breath thinking she was caught. She slowly turned around and opened one eye, followed by her other eye.

"I didn't mean to— I mean I did, but I won't be using it! I would never! In fact, these don't even belong to me," She shoved the bag to Sam, and rambled, "it's his! He was the one who handed it to me! I would never sir! We both were in fact forced by a very rowdy boy to hold them!" She looked down at the open trunk and sighed, "I know what you must be thinking, but that rowdy boy was very rowdy and bad and told me to bring them to Hogwarts! So, stop accusing us— "

" —We never accused you— "

"Your word against us is just a word! There's no proof!"

"Euphemia, they're also students like us!" Sam interrupted as Euphemia's face burned in embarrassment.

Both the teenagers looked at each other and laughed.

"Looks like we made a poor firstie cry on their first day," the frizzy-haired laughed.

"I did not cry!"

"They thought we were going to expel them," both of them sniggered as Sam and Euphemia flushed.

Finally calming down, they went out of the compartment, still at the door, "we'd be going, but it was nice meeting you both. You were a great laugh."

The other one held his bicep, stopping them, "don't really get nervous children," he grinned widely, "all you'd have to do is kill a troll and then you'd be sorted accordingly."

Euphemia and Sam yelled, "What?!"

"Lee," the frizzy-haired gave him a playful look, and turned towards Euphemia and Sam, "he's kidding."

Euphemia scowled, "well if he weren't I would go straight back to the station."

He gave them a small grin, "speaking of Hogwarts. They won't expel you for the fart bombs. Great ones though, they're huge! You both should change into your robes. We're nearly there."

"Yeah. Anyways, I'm Lee and this, right here is Edward. You need anything- we'll be in Gryffindor. We're ready to help!"

"Except if you're Slytherin," Edward interrupted only to be hit by the elbow, "I'm kidding. Obviously."

"Obviously."

Euphemia and Sam went to change separately and sat back down. A voice echoed through the train:
  "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Mia shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Mia heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.

"C'mon, follow me— any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Mia thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. The boy who kept losing his toad sniffed once or twice.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!"

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n three to a boat!"

While Sam sat in the front, Euphemia in the back. The boy who helped her at the train station, name starting with 'R', tried to sit on the boat, but almost fell over. Thankfully Mia held his hand in time and pulled him on the boat.

"Thanks!" the boy panted.

"No problem!" she smiled, raising her hand as he shook it.

"Nice to officially meet you, Ms Potter," he dramatically bowed his head, "now that we're meeting formally, I'm Regulas Black. I reckon we met in Diagon Alley the other day!"

"And the train station!" They shared a smile and sat in silence.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then— FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

────────── notes──────────

4000 + words. damn!
please check chapter 'act I', in case you're having trouble with the new cast.
hope you liked this chapter. comments and votes will be appreciated <33

22.01.22