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IF THERE WAS ONE THING Katherine Kinley liked about her family, it was that wherever they went, they were always early. This meant that, after a lecture from her parents, she was able to board the train early, find an empty compartment, and watch everyone as they began to arrive on the platform.
Kates had ignored the lecture entirely, as she did with most of the things her parents said. It wasn't that she was a bad kid—because she was quite the opposite, and her Aunt Jackie had taught her from a young age to know her worth—it was that her family was awful. They were Blood Purists, and her father had even been a Death Eater back during the war. Her brother had the same attitude they did, too, and Kates still thought it a miracle that she came out with a mind of her own.
She supposed she owed at least part of that to Aunt Jackie, though whenever she told the woman that, she always modestly disagreed. "You're different than them," Jacqueline Kinley would tell her niece in a soothing yet decisive tone. "I'm just here to teach you that it's all right to be yourself." She was grateful to have spent so much time over the summer with her aunt, even though her parents hated the idea of their daughter spending time with her. Those moments were, without a doubt, the only decent part of her summer—and, really, her entire life thus far.
Her stomach did a somersault as she thought back to the occasion of the day: in just a few hours, she would be arriving at Hogwarts for the first time, where she would finally get to make a life for herself beyond what her parents wanted. She could be her own person, do as she pleased and speak with whomever she wanted, regardless of blood status. It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, but she was ready and determined. She did, after all, have a very good feeling about it all, as she did with most things in spite of her rather dreary upbringing.
As her future classmates would come to learn, Kates Kinley was one of the most positive people on the planet. Her spirits were always high and she had a habit of looking on the bright side, even if it was a rough side to find. It was harder for her to be like that at home, but the more time she spent in the freedom of her Aunt's care, the more she realized that that was who she was, and she loved it. She had a knack for being kind, and that kindness, as she herself would come to learn soon enough, was not to be mistaken for weakness. She could just as easily throw a sharp retort at someone as she could offer them a smile. A perfect balance.
More people were arriving on the platform now, she noticed as she stared out the window of her compartment. Parents were hugging their children goodbye and some were talking through windows to people who had already boarded. Older students shared embraces with their friends as they reunited, leaving their families so they could catch up on the train. Younger siblings who were not yet old enough to attend the school watched in either awe or jealousy, staying back as their siblings went off to prepare for departure. Soon the platform was so full that were was hardly an empty space about; it was a sea of heads and trolleys, cages and trunks. Kates expected she'd soon have to share her compartment, but she didn't mind the thought at all—in fact, she rather hoped the time would come with much haste.
"Is this seat taken?" Kates' gaze was torn away from the window and to the compartment doorway, in which stood a boy about her age with dark skin and kind eyes. He looked nervous, but that was to be expected from the majority of her peers. He was probably a muggle-born, or perhaps a half-blood. The thought alone made her feel even better about what she was about to say.
"Not at all," she replied, gesturing for him to join her. He flashed her a timid yet grateful smile and slid into the seat opposite her, staying closer to the door rather than moving toward the window. Even so, he didn't busy himself with a book or anything, so she took it as a sign that she could speak to him. "I'm Katherine Kinley, but my friends call me Kates." It was a rehearsed statement, one she was elated to say for the first time. The truth was that she didn't really have any friends; the only people her family allowed her to associate with were far too professional or stuck-up for her tastes, and they all called her Katherine. Aunt Jackie was the only one who called her Kates...though that would soon change.
"I'm Dean—Dean Thomas," said the boy. He relaxed ever so slightly, and Kates found comfort in knowing she played a role in that.
"Have you spent much time around magic?" That, Aunt Jackie told her, was the best way to ask. It wasn't that she cared what his blood status was—though hacking off her parents by befriending a muggle-born would bring her great joy—she was just genuinely curious as to whether he was new to the world or not.
"Not yet," he told her, leaning back in his seat and resting an arm on his rucksack. "My mum's a...what's it called again? Someone without magic?" Kates couldn't help but smile.
"A muggle," she replied helpfully. Her smile must have been contagious, because he donned one as well.
"Yeah, a muggle. Diagon Alley's the only magical place I've seen before—well, besides here, of course. What about you?" Her smile faltered, but didn't fall completely. She allowed her posture to relax and leaned back in her own seat.
"My family has magical blood as far back as we know. They pride themselves on it." She paused and sighed. "I personally think they're full of rubbish." With that, she donned the faintest of mischievous smirks, and Dean grinned back at her. They fell into a comfortable silence, though it was brief.
Kates noticed another boy around her age standing outside their compartment, looking around as if he was trying to decide which one to enter. She glanced at her small watch; the train was going to be leaving in less than ten minutes. Most compartments were probably nearing capacity, if not full already.
"We've got room in here, if you want to join us," she called to him, her welcoming smile naturally returning to her lips. He hesitated, looked back and forth between her and Dean, then shrugged and walked in, sitting next to Dean and across from her.
"Thanks," he said, wearing a bit of a smile of his own. "You two first years?"
"Sure are," she replied. "That's Dean, I'm Katherine, but my friends call me Kates." She felt Dean's gaze fall upon her, and she had a feeling he was starting to see through her practiced line, but for some reason she was all right with that.
"I'm Seamus," said the new boy, leaning against the window. He reached into his rucksack, pulled out a deck of cards, and flashed a grin at them. "Either 'a you ever play Exploding Snap?"
It was as they started playing that Kates got a strange but welcome feeling. Even though they barely knew each other, they were all evidently comfortable being together. She and Seamus taught Dean how to play Exploding Snap, then he took out a deck of muggle cards and taught them how to play some muggle games. They talked and laughed and got to know each other, and that strange but welcome feeling stuck with her the whole time. Something told her the two boys weren't going anywhere any time soon, and she liked that.
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HOGWARTS WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE Kates had ever seen, she was certain of it. Even from the outside it looked cozier than Kinley Manor, and even in the dark she could see that the grounds surrounding it were gorgeous. She couldn't wait to explore the castle and find her favorite spots. Hopefully her common room would be one of them, assuming she didn't wind up in Slytherin.
She wasn't scared of being a Slytherin—Aunt Jackie was a Slytherin, after all, so she knew they weren't all bad. What she was scared of was being closer to her brother and the "world" their parents wanted to force her into. She'd be around him and his friends, not to mention her incredibly annoying cousin Draco—because there was no doubt he'd be sent there, too. She'd much rather wind up in...well, any of the other houses, really.
"There wasn't a wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin," a voice from beside her remarked, bringing her back to the present. The group of first years had entered the castle and were nearly at the Great Hall, and as Kates turned to see who had spoken she saw a red-haired boy speaking to a brunette boy with glasses.
"There were many good ones, too," she told the first boy, speaking loud enough to get his attention. She spoke out of instinct more than anything else, and hadn't even really realized she said anything until he turned to her. The group was slowing to a stop, allowing him to face her properly.
"In Slytherin? Name one," he challenged. Kates snuck a glance at Dean and Seamus, who exchanged a glance of their own and shrugged noncommittally. Then, with a burst of confidence, she faced the redhead again, crossing her arms over her chest.
"My Aunt, for one. She's one of the best people I know. Then, of course, you're aware Merlin was a Slytherin too, aren't you?" His face flushed, and she had a feeling he hadn't known—or had at least forgotten—that fact. His friend stifled a laugh behind his hand.
"Who are you, anyway?" the redhead asked, but he didn't sound nearly as mean as he was probably trying to. He sounded more genuinely curious than anything, which made Kates feel as if she had accomplished something, no matter how small that accomplishment was.
"Katherine Kinley, but my friends call me Kates." That time Dean smiled from beside her, and she had a feeling Seamus was catching on, too—especially since she had told the pair of them she hadn't had any friends growing up. As it turned out, she hadn't been so alone in that.
"Ron Weasley," he replied. "So we're friends, then?"
"Are we?" she retorted. The boy, Ron, opened his mouth to say something, then decided against it and shook his head, facing his friend once more. Kates couldn't help but smile.
After a few minutes, they were led into the Great Hall by the formidable yet kind Professor McGonagall. They stopped in a crowd at the front of the hall and the Sorting Hat was introduced. Kates watched with polite interest, but as the Sorting began, her stomach began to twist as her nerves got the better of her.
She hadn't been nervous earlier, but with the whole school watching the Sorting (with varied amounts of interest, but still), she couldn't help but worry. Her brother would be watching, and her parents would hear about it as soon as he could write a letter about it, surely. What would they do if she was sorted into Gryffindor or Hufflepuff? How would they react? And, if she was sorted into Ravenclaw or Slytherin, would they try even harder to pressure her into the life they wanted for her?
Seamus was sorted into Gryffindor. Kates applauded for him, and in spite of everything going on in her head she beamed at him as he went down to the Gryffindor table. As it turned out, that was precisely what she needed to ground herself. She looked around the Great Hall; she was safe at Hogwarts, she knew it. She had her new friends, and she'd surely make more, and she always had Aunt Jackie. She would be all right.
"Kinley, Katherine," called Professor McGonagall, reading her name from the piece of parchment she held in her hand. Several of her peers had been sorted already, and now it was her turn to learn of her fate. Whatever happened, she decided, she would make do. She was good at that.
Kates stepped up and sat on the stool, and she flinched as the Sorting Hat began to speak to her. It was an odd feeling, having a voice speak so clearly in her head.
"Ah!" the hat exclaimed in interest. "Another Kinley, but not one like the others I've come across. Your kindness and optimism always prevail, even in the darkest of times, but there is bravery too, yes, and a great deal of courage and nerve. Yes, I think I know just where to put you..." Kates held her breath, then the hat shouted for everyone to hear: "Gryffindor!"
She found herself beaming again as she left the hat behind and trotted over to join her new housemates. She slid onto the bench beside Seamus and across from a pretentious-looking girl with bushy hair she believed to be named Hermione. Seamus gave her a pat on the back and she shook hands with Hermione, and she was overcome with the feeling that, yes, her time at Hogwarts was going to be wonderful.
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