The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 2

"Good luck this year," Carter said, giving Fidelity a tight hug. "And don't forget to write!"

"Of course," Fidelity said, hugging him back. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you," he said pulling away to look her in the eyes and giving her a warm smile.

With her brother's farewells, Fidelity and her parents traveled to Diagon Alley by Floo Flame, then made their way to King's Cross Station. When they arrived there, they quickly walked through the barrier to platform nine and three quarters. Amid the chaos of the station, Fidelity gave her parents long hugs, and with her trunk in one hand and empty birdcage in the other, boarded the scarlet steam engine.

Fidelity searched the train for Ava, eventually finding her alone in a compartment. "Ava!" Fidelity greeted as she settled in opposite her. "Looks like you've got the compartment to yourself."

"Yeah," Ava said, smiling. "I was starting to think you'd missed the train! You've never been very good at time management." She gave Fidelity an amused look before flicking back her silky, shoulder-length, brown hair.

"Hey!" Fidelity replied, laughing. "I was just a little late."

The whistle sounded and then the train began to chug out of the station.

"Well, this is it," Ava said, looking out the window as the scenery began to change. "Our last year."

"I can't believe it," Fidelity said, staring at the passing countryside. "It feels like we were just in first year."

Ava nodded. "I'm excited and nervous. There's so much we have to do. But also so much we'll get to do."

Fidelity agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. As the train chugged along, she thought about the adventures and challenges the year ahead might bring, hoping for memorable experiences and perhaps a bit of the romance she had always dreamed of.

A few minutes later, the door of their compartment opened. "Hey! Mind if we join?" Penny asked.

"There you guys are!" Fidelity replied.

Fidelity and Ava stood up quickly hugging their friends before resuming their seats. Penny and Cameron sat on either side of Fidelity, and Josh next to Ava.

Penny and Cameron were twins. Penny had very light blonde hair and blue eyes. Cameron had sandy hair and green eyes; he towered over his twin who was around the same height as Fidelity. The twins were Fidelity's closest friends in Hufflepuff. The other boy, Josh, had brown hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. He was in Gryffindor like Ava.

For the next hour, the five friends filled each other in on their summers and any details they might have missed in their letters. Fidelity's summer wasn't very eventful, but she thoroughly enjoyed hearing about her friends' holidays. Penny and Cameron spent part of their summer in Italy visiting their aunt who was living there temporarily. Josh had spent a week in France with his parents and brothers. Ava spent the first part of her summer working in her muggle grandparents' shop with her two older sisters.

"Anyone fancy a game of exploding snap?" Josh asked about two hours into the trip.

"That didn't go too well last time, mate," Cameron reminded him.

"Oh, come on!" Josh insisted. "It'll be fun."

"Alright, alright," Cameron agreed with a laugh.

After a few rounds, they decided to call it quits. While Fidelity's four friends caught up on some last-minute homework, Fidelity decided to read because she had already finished all her homework during the break. About an hour later, the plump witch showed up with the food trolley. Fidelity got a couple of chocolate frogs, a sugar quill, and some pumpkin juice, while her friends picked other treat assortments.

Halfway through the trip, Josh went off to meet up with his Quiditch friends. Not long after that, a Ravenclaw girl came in asking for Penny and Cameron. Fidelity used the lack of company as an excuse to take a nap. She lay down on the bench and fell asleep to the sound of the train chugging along.

Fidelity woke up just in time to change into her robes before the train arrived at Hogsmeade station. She watched the beautiful Scottish highlands until the station came into view. Fidelity and Ava left their compartment and dismounted the train. As they disembarked, Ava was recounting a story animatedly.

"Can you believe that?" Ava asked, her voice rising in disbelief.

"You're kidding! That's ridiculous!" Fidelity was looking over at Ava when she was knocked to the ground. A Slytherin boy had walked right into her. He was looking over his shoulder when it happened and hadn't seen her.

"Blimey! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" he asked, helping Fidelity up, clearly apologetic.

"It's okay," Fidelity said, surprised by his reaction. She brushed the dirt off her robes, blushing slightly. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I really didn't mean to. I wasn't looking and- I'm so sorry," he stammered.

"It's really okay, I promise," Fidelity said with a kind smile. "I'm alright, truly."

"Okay then," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I'll see you around," he finished, leaving quickly.

Ava giggled and teased Fidelity as they walked to the carriages.

"Shut up," Fidelity mumbled to Ava, nudging her with her shoulder, which only caused Ava to laugh more, forcing Fidelity to suppress a smile.

They climbed into a carriage, and as they rode up to the castle, Fidelity looked forward to the year ahead, feeling both excited and nostalgic. By the time they reached the great wrought iron gates, she had forgotten all about her encounter with the Slytherin boy.