''𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙚.''
𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽, 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and no sound of Buck the Rooster could be heard. People were walking up and down the sidewalk, while Moose was sleeping peacefully next to me. Faris sleeping with his head between his wings at my window.
Hermione nor my parents have came to wake me up, as they stayed downstairs like the good folks they are. Dudley wasn't on the street yet, and neither were his friends. Neighbors watering and catering for their gardens out front, as the cool breeze hits the block just right. Making it seem like a paradise.
I know I had said that I didn't wake up peacefully this morning, and that's because of an idea that mum had gotten from a magazine she got in the mail. And unfortunately for me, I was the only one that the idea applied to, because no one else needed it besides myself. I should be offended, and I am offended.
Because mum had got me an alarm clock.
As the clock goes off, I jump from the bed, making Moose fall to the floor since he was sleeping on my chest. Faris also jumped, flapping his wings at the clock while making noises at it, poking it with his beak every now and then to turn it off. I wanted to throw it out the window, but mum would just get me another one.
So I settled for just smacking the top of it to turn it off for today. I looked down to hear Moose sigh and rest his head against the ground again, half asleep still. Faris was still scolding the clock, trying to rip it to shreds, maybe that could be my excuse if I threw it out the window. As I stood up, the unmistakeable noise of Buck could be heard.
Now I couldn't tell which was worse, being awoken by the rooster or the clock. I'm guessing the clock, because I could easily let Faris snatch buck and rip him to shreds if it didn't get me in trouble with the girl next door. I pet Faris, soothing the feathers down on his head.
Faris settled down, taking his place to stare out my window. I hopped out of bed, avoiding stepping on Moose and made my way to my closet. I would've fallen back asleep if I could, but mum would've came and woke me back up again, since we are heading back to school for second year today.
I picked out some causal enough clothes, then headed over to the bathroom to take a shower before I ate. Hopefully mum knew I was awake, maybe then she'll take away the alarm clock and leave me to wake up in peace. Besides the menace next door, but even Buck is better then the alarm clock. And that's really saying something.
As the water hut my skin, I heard a knock on the door.
''Y/n, are you in there?'' Mum asked from the outside of it.
''No, just a hobo that broke in through the window.'' I said, making my voice relatively deeper.
''Very funny. Hurry up in there, would you?''
''I'm trying, but someone is currently at the door. Talking to me while I shower.'' After that comment, I heard mum sigh from the other side and walk off, her footsteps barely audible.
Finally, I was able to take my shower in peace. I kept wondering how my second year at Hogwarts was going to go, I couldn't wait to get onto that train. Theo and Blaise must be miserable, sitting around a huge, cold mansion all day long. Only listening to what their parents are saying when they say something about muggleborns.
I had even started thinking about Flint, wondering what he is doing whenever he is at his mansion. Maybe he was doing the same thing Blaise and Theo have been doing, or maybe he was trying to figure out something about the stranger that keeps sending me letters. He could possibly, also, be trying to find a way to get me out of his head.
Fred and George had sent me some letters, telling me tales of pranks that they had played on Ron. They also told me that he was scared of spiders, so I had a few ideas of my own to use against the boy. Though, I hadn't figured out what Fred and George were scared of, they wouldn't tell me, and I get why they wouldn't.
Neville also wrote to me, telling me about some fascinating plants that he's found around his house over the past months. It always made me smile to think about how much Neville loved his plants, I still scold Hermione for using the spell against him last year and she won't quit telling me that it was simply necessary.
Seamus sends me letters every now and then, but when I open them, there are always ashes all over the paper. I'm guessing he doesn't just blow stuff up at school, because he said in one of his letters that he blew up his lunch one time. And he didn't fancy eating a burnt sandwich.
Dean sends me postcards from the different cities he's visited. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Florida and a lot more. It amazed me that this kid has traveled to so many places, and got all these post cards. Maybe I could start traveling some day, since I'm a witch, it shouldn't be that hard, right?
After my shower was over, and I dressed into my outfit, I made my way downstairs. The smell of pancakes filling my nose.
''Finally. What took you so long?'' Mum asked.
''It was a shower, mum. Chill.'' I responded, making her roll her eyes at me.
Sitting down at the table, I instantly started to eat my pancakes, Hermione giving me glances every now and then. I didn't know why, but I decided to ignore it, eating my food was more important that some weird glances from my sister at the moment.
''Alright, you kids are going to have to get to the station by yourselves.'' Mum spoke from the front door, grabbing her purse as dad shrugged his jacket on. ''Can you do that?'' She asked.
''Yeah.'' I shrugged. Hermione nodded.
''Be good. Write to us.'' Mum demanded before leaving out the front door with dad. He gave us a smile and followed behind mum, locking the door on his way out.
''What's with the glances, 'Mione?'' I asked, setting down my fork and grabbing my plate to put into the sink. She sighed, before standing and following me to the sink.
''About this morning.'' She spoke.
''The alarm clock? Speaking of, where is that cursed magazine.'' I walked away from Hermione and into the living room, looking at every corner and under every cushion for the magazine.
''She's hidden it. She knew that you would do something about it after she seen the idea.'' Hermione admitted, fidgeting with her fingers.
''And you didn't think to stop her? I was doing just fine sleeping on my own, thank you.'' I retorted, still searching everywhere for the magazine. Mum got one every month, and I didn't need her getting more ideas to help my life.
''I wanted to, believe me. She just wouldn't listen.''
''It's alright, Hermione. Just tell me where it is.''
''That's just it, I don't know. She's hidden it pretty good this time.''
''Then help me look.'' And that's what she did. Hermione went to check the drawers to the side table and the kitchen, while I checked the closets and the rest of the living room. Sadly, we didn't find the magazine.
Hermione had the idea to check in their room, so that's what she did. Though, I stayed downstairs to the arrival of Oscar, who had a letter in his beak. My legs almost gave out from under me when I was the familiar owl, I really didn't want another letter, but I couldn't do anything to stop it.
Oscar jumped in and into the coffee table when I opened the window, dropping the letter for me to read. Hermione want down here, so I would be safe to read this right here in the couch, without her asking any questions about it for now.
╒═════════════════════════════╕
Dear Miss Granger,
There isn't much that I can tell you. Only that I've
found you through a certain lead in Hogwarts. Even
that information I cannot share with you.
As for meeting, you haven't seen me, but you
have bumped into me, quite a few times.
We will be seeing each other again,
very soon.
Sincerely,
G.
╘══════════════════════════════╛
I don't like this at all.
He said that we would be meeting again very soon. How soon, exactly? I really didn't feel like meeting this person, whoever he was. What is he was a criminal that I've been writing to, and then I'll be the fall person that they blame everything on. Then I'll get sent to jail.
No, Dumbledore wouldn't let that happen to me. Would he? He would help me, yeah, he would help get me out of this situation. Maybe I should tell Flint that I had gotten a new letter, he's really the only other one that knew about these letters. Or just maybe, he might be the lead in Hogwarts.
The letter says that this person has got details on me because of a lead from Hogwarts. I don't want to believe it, but anybody could be a lead. It could be Flint, or even Blaise or Theo, maybe even someone from Gryffindor. Or even, Malfoy. I had a whole school full of options, and it was only one of those people.
The stairs made their usual squeak noise, notifying me that Hermione was coming down the stairs. I stuffed the letter back into the envelope, and the envelope into my pocket. Oscar was still sitting on the table, so I shooed him back out the window for now.
''I still couldn't find it.'' She informed, watching me curiously as I leaned against the window.
''It's alright. Let's just get ready, we should head to the station soon.'' I replied, running up the stairs and leaving Hermione behind.
Closing my bedroom door, Moose ran up to me, placing his paws on my feet. I laughed at the dog, crouching down to pet him. Faris made a noise from the desk, so I looked over to see Oscar was at the window. Reluctantly opening the window, Oscar flew in, hitting Faris in the head with his wing.
I turned to pack my trunk, while Oscar and Faris were arguing - I think that's what they were doing. Moose was watching the two birds, his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. We had to leave to the station soon, let's just hope Stan is close around to take us there. I am definitely not taking a taxi to get there, mainly because I don't have any money to pay the cab driver once we arrive.
Faris hopped into his cage, still glaring at Oscar as he did the same back. Moose wanted to go, but I told him to stay. So, he jumped on my bed and laid down, his head on his paws at he stared at me. I really wanted to bring Moose to Hogwarts, but he couldn't come, because people had cats there and I didn't want to be the one responsible for all the dead cats in the building.
''Y/n, come on! We're going to miss the train!'' Hermione shouted from downstairs.
''No, we're not.'' I replied, dragging my trunk behind me as I held Faris' cage in my other hand. Oscar had flew back out my window, just to follow me onto the train without being in my sights. We locked the front door behind us, walking to the edge of the sidewalk. Hermione was about to keep walking down the sidewalk, until I pulled her back by her sleeve.
''What are you doing?! We have to get to the station!'' Hermione shouted, pulling her sleeve from my grip. I rolled my eyes and counted down.
''Three. . .Two. . .'' When I said 'one' a crack and familiar purple bus stopped in-front of us. The conductor of the bus stood at the back, leaning against the wall as he looked toward us with a smile.
''Grangers, what a surprise!'' He dramatically raised his hands, stepping off the bus to take out trunks onto the bus.
''A very nice surprise indeed.'' I replied, hopping onto the bus with the cage still in my hand. Faris made a noise and flapped his wings a little when I set him down, only for me to calm him.
''Is this how we're getting to the station?'' Hermione asked. I remember the last time she used the Knight Bus, let's just say, she doesn't like the bus very much. At all, to be exact.
''Yes, 'Mione. It's the quickest way.''
''No, no, no.''
''Ouch.'' Stan mumbled from the corner where he usually stood, beside the window where Ernie sat on the other side with the shrunken head.
''Hermione, it's either this or being late to catch the train.'' I replied. She seemed to hesitate, and it was taking too long, so I signaled Stan to go ahead and start heading towards the station. He knocked on Ernie's window, which made him drop his donut, and start the bus.
Hermione screamed for what seemed like the whole time, thankfully the Knight Bus was fast and we were able to get to the station in no time.
⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒
Hermione grew worried when the train started to leave, and it wasn't for us. She was worried for Ron and Harry, she said that she didn't see them enter the train.
''Maybe they are already on here and can't find us.'' I suggested, shrugging my shoulders.
''Mine as well look.'' She then stood up, leaving the compartment. She had left pretty quickly, I didn't know she had such a desire for Ron, but it was a little funny to see her care so much. I'm sure they just chose a different compartment because they couldn't find us.
I joined Hermione in the search, only I went the opposite way that she went to search. The Ravenclaw's haven't seen them, I only asked if they seem Harry though, because I doubt any of them even know who Ron Weasley is. They've probably only seen him at the sorting ceremony, and that wasn't very long.
Then I had the Slytherin side, I already knew that Harry and Ron wouldn't be sitting over here, because well, you know, Slytherin's and Gryffindor's don't necessarily get along with each other. Though, that didn't really bother me because half of my friends are from Slytherin - if you can count Flint as a friend.
When I continued walking down the isle, trying to get a close look at the Slytherin's, I was pulled into a compartment by the arm, making me fall in the floor.
''Y/n!'' Those voices could be heard from anywhere.
''Blaise! Theo!''
''Why does Blaise's name come first?'' Theo complained.
''Because I'm just the best.'' Blaise gloated, a smug smirk in Theo's direction. I slowly got up from the floor, my arm a little numb from getting pulled into their compartment.
''I missed you both, equally.'' I informed them, hugging them once I was able to stand the right way without wobbling over. Theo and Blaise hugged back, Theo's hair was tickling my nose.
''My family was so boring, it's exhausting.'' Theo complained, sitting down on the seat. I sat down next to him, and Blaise on my other side.
''My mother kept bringing guy's home every week. It got annoying because they were all so obsessive.'' Blaise commented, a slight scowl on his face. I rubbed the boys back, soothing him a little.
''Maybe we could go in a vacation after this year. Before third year starts.'' I suggested, both Theo and Blaise's eyes widened and smiles came upon their faces.
''Where?'' Blaise asked.
''I was thinking, New York?'' I shrugged, looking between the two.
''Yes!'' They shouted simultaneously. I laughed at them, happy that they were now happy and not depressed because of their family issues.
I had stopped looking for Harry and Ron, thinking Hermione could get it done and she might've already found them anyways. Theo, Blaise and I kept talking in the compartment, some of it was about the vacation and what our plans would be. They also asked if there was going to be any Gryffindor's there, to which I said that there wasn't going to be any.
Hermione was planning on visiting the Weasley's that week, and I thought it would be a good idea to just take my Snake friends on the vacation, it seems like they really need one. I'd even invite Flint, because he's helped me so much. Even thought we only actually met when he was trying to murder me in the Quidditch Feild.
I'd have to write mum and dad about it also, telling them if my plans. Surely they would help me with the money, if they couldn't then we could just convert some galleons into muggle money. It wasn't usually that hard, and it shouldn't be this time either.
Hermione stopped by, saying that she hadn't found Harry nor Ron, and kept asking why I wasn't looking and was just sitting around. I told her that it hought she'd already found them, and could find them perfectly fine on her own. The only problem was, they didn't seem to be anywhere on the train, and she even asked Ginny.
She tried asking the twins, but they didn't help much. They just kept confusing her with other random questions and responses, so she left and decided to focus more on the task at hand. Theo and Blaise offered to help, which I thanked them for, because then they could search the Slytherin part of the train without it looking suspicious that Gryffindor's we're searching instead.
And I decided to do what Hermione hadn't been able to do, talk to the twins. They gave Hermione a hard time because they thought it was funny, and honestly, it was pretty funny. But when I asked them about Harry and Ron, they said that they hadn't seen either of them since they walked through the wall, so what if they were left behind?
The twins started to look with us too, so we had about six people looking for two people who seemed like they couldn't be found. Like one of those search and find games, but way, way harder. I was currently walking with the twins down the isle, as we talked about the many pranks they had in store for this year.
As they were telling me about turning a classroom into an ocean, I heard a weird noise coming from outside. It sounded a bit like a lawn mower, but who is using a lawn mower in the train? Fred and George seemed to have heard it too, because they looked at each other before looking out the window.
When I went over, I saw a light blue car flying in the air, Ron was driving with Harry in the passenger.
''What the. . .''
''They are so dead.'' Fred commented.
''Dad's going to freak.'' George added.
''Forget dad, mum is going to freak.'' Fred corrected.
''Well, whatever happens, let's just hope they live.'' As I said that, Harry fell out of the car, hanging by the open door with one hand, Ron trying to help him back up. I'm surprised neither of them had died yet, but I'm glad they were still alive.
The twins and I went to inform Hermione that the two were fine, and didn't need finding because we already found them. When she asked where they were, George started telling her the story of when they took Harry from his home using their father's car. She ignored most of the story, telling them to get to the point.
Fred and George kept making it more confusing for Hermione, so I went ahead and explained everything to them about what happened when we seen them out the window. Hermione said something about punishing the boys, but I'm sure that was already going to happen when we arrived at the school.
And that's just what happened.