The Cocky Hockey Captain

Chapter 1 ● Canada Express

I rested my elbow on the window, looking out at the pines and the clouds swirling in the sky. I had the carriage all to myself, which was nothing short of a miracle. It gave me the freedom to sprawl on my seat and stretch out my robe so that it wouldn't wrinkle. I loosened my striped green and white tie and got comfortable for the ride. It wouldn't be long before I was closer to the Hogwarts castle, but the train ride was my absolute favorite and I wanted to stretch it as long as possible.

My peace disappeared when a group of three girls about my age entered my carriage. My sneer was not enough to make them change direction, but they had the decency at least to squeeze into the bench opposite me. I womanspread a little bit more, to drive the point home. I gave them a glance that confirmed they didn't take this anywhere near as seriously as I did. They were not wearing their houses colors and their bright and wide eyes told me it was also their first time riding the Hogwarts Express. I couldn't understand what they were saying to each other, though it sounded vaguely eastern european.

In other words, they were my least favorite type of person. Tourists.

I scoffed and turned back to look out the window, where the panorama was turning darker and colder, and the first tendrils of a Dementor started to appear.

At that second the carriage door opened and I tensed up, knowing that there was no other room to sit in but next to me. Then as I turned to see how many people were intending to invade my personal space, I saw my second least favorite type of person.

My brother.

The corner of his lips quirked into a smirk as he recognized me. I lifted my Converse clad feet and rested my legs on the whole seat. The three girls watched as he, undeterred by my attempts, swept my legs down in a single stroke and sat down next to me, putting his arm around my shoulders. I snarled as I tried to bat it away, but he was still stronger than me and held me in place.

"Found you," he said, light green eyes twinkling. "Though, it wasn't that hard. You always come here when you're upset. How many hours have you been riding the train?"

As I swept my eyes back towards the window, my scowl swept across the faces of the tourist girls and they jumped.

Yes, I was brooding aboard the Hogwarts Express at Universal Studios, my favorite place on this blue planet. I was planning on coming to the park every day until the move was imminent, or until I convinced dad to toss his ridiculous plan away.

I folded my arms and hugged my Elder wand against my chest. "What, you want me to give you an award for your sleuthing abilities?"

Miguel leaned back and stretched his legs in front of him. Judging by the lovestruck expressions the tourists had, they didn't mind. This made me even more annoyed. I got weird looks when I womanspread, but they got hearts in their eyes when my brother manspread. Unfair double standards.

"Or maybe you should think about getting a little more creative."

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you here?"

He snorted. "Well, it's true that you're no Ravenclaw, but surely you can guess I'm here because I was looking for you."

In all fairness, Miguel was not a terrible brother. The problem was that he was my brother, which meant everything he did or said automatically ruffled my feathers. It didn't help that he was a total Gryffindor, boisterous and adventurous, and that I was the walking definition of a Slytherin.

I turned to him with narrowed eyes. "I can think of about ten different ways I can kill you right now, how is that for not being creative?"

He rolled his eyes. "Spare me the theatrics, Miss Porcupine. Let's go home."