Chapter Text
“Lafayette, don’t be daft!” I hollered as I chased after my brother.
“Come on Serafera, dahling. We absolutely MUST catch da train!”
“That’s rude! Don’t mock poor old Miss Jenson like that.” I protested. He let out a hyena laugh.
“Hold uuuup!” I complained, waving my arms and jumping up and down. “I can’t- I can’t go a-any…” my breath started to come in short, quick rasps as I struggled to get air into my lungs.
“Serafera!” my brother said fearfully as he rushed back to me and threw his arms around me. He began vigorously patting my back.
“Breathe, just breathe!”
“Th-that-t’s what I-I’m t-t-t-tr-ying to d-do…” I tried to get out. My body was wracked by heaving coughs as I tried to get even one full word out without stuttering. Just one damn word.
“Here!” he commanded as he held up my inhaler. I pushed it away.
“No.” I wheezed.
“Serafera, you can’t breathe! I don’t care how embarrassed you are by it, you’re going to inhale and you’re going to like it! Now, are you going to do it yourself, or do I have to make you? It’d be easy you know.” he said sternly. I whipped the inhaler out of his hand but gave him a deadly glare for good measure.
“Satisfied?” I asked angrily after I was done. He nodded happily. “Good!” I told him as I shoved the inhaler back into my backpack. “You know, I really hate your overly-protective brotherly instincts sometimes. Which is a pity, because it’s your only good quality.” I harrumphed.
He grinned evilly. “You love me and you know it. Now, be a good lil’ sistah an’ go catch yo choo-choo!” he said as he ruffled my hair, his earlier fear dissipated and his normal, annoying personality popping right back up.
I sighed as I batted his hand away and anxiously began smoothing down my hair. “You make fun of Miss Jenson, but she’s more sane than you are.” I grumbled as I walked away.
“Lovely dahling, absolutely lovely sentiment!”
This was my life with my brother. I was his younger sister, but I was always battling to keep him in line. He made me feel like such a prude sometimes, and I wasn’t, but if no one said anything to him he would never quit his foolish behavior. He’s bad enough as it is when I’m not monitoring him and correcting him. I sighed as I walked slowly towards my train, not wanting to bring on another embarrassing episode. He had been no help whatsoever in helping me calm my nerves about going to Hogwarts. It’s my first year attending, and I have no idea what I’m prepared for. Not to mention my brother was somewhat popular, which put a lot of pressure on me, the… well, let’s just say I’m an oddity. I thought back to when I had asked my brother about what it was like at Hogwarts, right after I had received the dry acceptance letter.
“Is it fun?” I had asked with a nervous mix of eagerness and trepidation.
“As fun as the bottom of a troll’s foot!”
“What are the people like?”
“Definitely not like a troll’s foot!”
“And the professors…” I had asked in complete disinterest, my head plopped solemnly onto my hand. I sensed where this was going…
“Troll’s foot.” he had answered, much too happily. Yep. There it was. I let my head fall forward, banging it against the desk. It did well to fight off the oncoming migraine that was my brother.
I walked the 50-foot-mile to the train door. “Welp, Serafera, there’s no time like the present.” I told myself as I raised my foot up to take the first step into my new life. This step would symbolize the rest of my school year.
“Watch it!” a boy sneered as he shoved past me, sending me flying to the side.
“Wah!” I screeched as I reached out and grabbed onto the handle of the bus, narrowly escaping what I knew would be a bruising fall. The last thing I needed was to show up at school with knobby, blackened knees. What a way to make a first impression.
“Hey!” I shouted as the boy ran up the stairs, laughing. I felt fire brimming in my eyes as I picked up my luggage and, swinging the heavy case over my back, charged after the arrogant prat. “If you think you’re getting away with that!” I charged up the steps and, reaching out, I grabbed onto his school robe, yanking him back.
“Get your hands off me!” he screeched in a shrill voice as he felt me yank him back. “You can’t touch me like that! Do you have any idea-
“Who you are? Yes, I know exactly who you are. A rude jerk-wad! Hi, I’m Serafera. See how I had manners there? I introduced myself. You know what aren’t good manners? Shoving past someone on a train! Apologize.”
“Serafera?” the boy asked in shock as he blinked, finally looking at me.
“Malfoy.” I said coldly. We had had the misfortune of growing up in houses right down the street from each other, so I didn’t need any introduction to know who this jerk was.
He dropped his gaze. “Sorry.”
“Thank you!” I said cheerfully as I picked up my luggage and skipped off. “That’s all I wanted.”
Ah yes, but what choice did he have other than to apologize to the big, bad witch. Yes, my brother and I were both famous in our own right, although for very different reasons. I looked left and right, trying to decide which way to go. Malfoy went left hurriedly, trying to escape from me… right it is! I started walking down the corridor, looking into each compartment for an empty seat. I was one of the last ones on, so they were all full. Finally, I came up on one with voices and raucous laughter pouring out of it.
“Seamus, stop, that’s not how you-
BOOM! The floor shook beneath my feet and liquid splattered over the partition glass. I blinked in shock and amusement as the door opened up and students poured out, coughing and blinking smoke out of their eyes.
“Let’s get out of here.” one of the guys said in disgust. They walked away, with only one girl bothering to look regretfully back. I peeked into the compartment to see a rather preppy looking boy with dark, smoking hair, blue eyes, and oddly pink lips, sitting in complete shock. His eyes were wide open and he was staring at the opposite seat.
“Are… are you okay?” I asked timidly as I stepped into the room.
“Yes, I’m fine, but I just don’t understand.” he said dully.
“Understand what?”
“Well, you see, I really thought that that water would turn into rum!”
I smirked. “So, what you’re telling me is you blew up water?”
“It wasn’t an easy task, I must admit.” he joked it off.
“You know, water can’t explode. Perhaps this mess,” I gestured around us, “happened because it turned into rum. But the sudden transformation created too much heat and so the rum burst into flames. Being alcohol, flames would create a big explosion.”
“Yeah, that’s true!” he said as he perked up. I threw back my head and laughed, glad I could make him feel better. After a second’s hesitation he joined in.
“Hi, I’m Serafera.” I said in between giggles, sticking out my hand.
“I’m Seamus, pleasure. Are you the Serafera?”
I blushed. “Gosh, I hope not,” I hedged, “anyways, do you mind if I join you?”
“Not at all!” he said eagerly before deflating. “But with this mess, you’d be better off finding another compartment.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it! Besides, I can fix this.” I said with a cocky wink, whipping out my wand with a flourish. Alright, I’m a wee bit of a show off. It happens.
I gestured my wand, a knobbed, carved piece of light elm with fairies’ wing. “Tergeo!” I said confidently. All at once, the liquid disappeared. Well, that’s just what I wish had happened. In reality only a little went away, leaving the compartment only slightly cleaner. “Um… I suppose I don’t quite have that one down. I’m sorry, I barely helped at all.” I blushed as I hid my wand and plopped down next to Seamus.
Seamus chuckled. “I won’t judge you. It’s not like you’re talking to an expert of magic, after all.”
“Yes, speaking of, what spell turns water into rum?”
“It’s, uh, one of my own creation.” he said as he looked down shyly.
“That’s amazing!” I said excitedly.
He looked up. “Really?”
“Yes! You may not have done what you set out to do, but at least now you know if you’re ever in trouble you can create a diversion by using that spell, and the best part is, since it’s your own spell, no one will be prepared for it!”
“You’re not funny.” he said, but he laughed anyways. I relaxed. It was nice, talking to someone who focused on me as a person and not my legacy. I had never really had that before. I knew immediately that I liked this person.
“Seamus, are you alright, Nathaniel told me what happened. We came to check on you.” a boy with black hair and a lightning scar on his forehead burst into the compartment. Harry Potter. A fascinating person, yes, but just another person, much like me. There was a boy with bright red hair behind him, and a girl with golden-blonde curls, entrancing brown eyes, and lovely pink lips. She shoved her way to the front.
“Oh, Seamus, it is quite a mess after all. I thought they were over-exaggerating. Bethel does have a tendency to do that. Luckily I know just the spell to fix it!” saying that she held up her wand and cleared the rest of the liquid up with the spell that I had failed at.
I stood up and started to walk forward. “How did you do-“ I began, but I tripped on the edge of my robe, sending me flying forward. I plowed into the girl, sending her reeling backwards. She landed on her back, my head firmly wedged against her stomach, right underneath her chest. I scrambled up, blushing furiously. An answering blush started to slowly spread across her own cheeks.
“I’m so sorry, I’m not normally such a klutz, I swear it! It’s just that I’m nervous today. It’s my first year here. Oh, but I’ve made a complete mess of things. Here, let me help you up!” I reached out a hand and pulled her up with a strained chuckle.
“That’s alright!” she replied with an answering laugh. “At least it happened after I cleaned up the mess, otherwise I would have landed in the puddle that was just there. So, you’re a first year? I’m Hermione Granger, a second year. I promise, there’s nothing you need to worry about, but if you’d like I could show you around Hogwarts when we arrive.”
“Thank you so much! I’m Serafera.”
“The Serafera?” Ron said in amazement. Hermione turned on him immediately.
“Who is she?” Harry asked.
“Ronald, I’m sure she gets quite enough of that! Don’t!” Hermione snapped at the same time.
I gave a strained smile and put a hand on Hermione’s shoulder. “Whoa tigress, it’s okay.” I ignored Harry completely, not wanting to go down that road.
“If you’re sure,” she said uncertainly. “Well, I probably should be going.”
“Wait!” I said, grabbing her arm to stop her from leaving. “Why don’t you all stay here with Seamus and me? You know, now that it’s vacated. It would mean a lot to me if I knew some people before I entered Hogwarts.”
Hermione’s brow furrowed. “But, you’ve grown up in the wizarding world. Surely you know someone?”
“I, ah… I didn’t socialize with others much…” I mumbled awkwardly, avoiding their gazes.
Ron hesitated. “I don’t know. All our stuff is in the other compartment.” Harry and Hermione immediately shot him disbelieving looks. “Whhhich is why it’s a great idea to stay here!”
“No, he’s right. Maybe Seamus and I could grab our stuff and follow you back to your compartment.” I suggested hopefully, fingers crossed behind my back.
“Even better!” Hermione said, grabbing my hand and beginning to drag me out the door.
“Wait, wait, my luggage!” I laughed as I quickly reached up and grabbed the two bags I had brought.
Harry led the way back to the compartment. The rest of us chatted behind him like we had always known each other, which I guess was true for them. What surprised me the most was how easily I fit into their group. They didn’t care who I was for once, which is something I’ve never had before.
“This is it!” Harry announced as he threw open the door. He and I immediately grabbed window seats. Seamus sat eagerly down beside me.
“Thanks for letting us come back with you guys.” I said sincerely. “It was very thoughtful.” Hermione gave me a sweet smile as she took the seat by Harry.
“Don’t thank us for that. It’s generally just us three in here. It will be nice to have others.”
The train started up and began to take off as we settled in. “Here we go.” I whispered, a sickening feeling settling in. I was not looking forward to getting to school and being called up by the sorting hat. I already knew what would happen. A hush would fall over the room, all eyes would snap towards me, the girl who couldn’t escape the legend.
“Is something the matter? You seem unsettled.” Hermione asked me.
I forced the smile that I didn’t feel inside. “Yes, I am. I’m just… thinking of what Hogwarts will be like.” I fell quiet as everyone laughed and talked around me, Seamus forgetting his earlier embarrassment, Ron forgetting he cared who I was, Hermione forgetting she was sore from where I had toppled her earlier. Everyone seemed to have forgotten their worries and bothers- everyone but me. I couldn’t shake the feeling of trepidation that filled me, its dark fingers reaching out until every part of me was filled with a nervous anxiety that brought me closer and closer to the dark place I so desperately wanted to avoid.