"Mum, c'mon, let me go." Katie giggled as Mrs Blair hugged her tight for the fiftieth time in five minutes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just really going to miss you." Mrs Blair said, cupping her daughter's cheek in her hand.
"I know. I'll miss you too." Katie hugged her mum one last time before moving on to her dad. They smiled at each other and Katie noticed the tears in her father's eyes.
"Dad, are you crying?" Katie smirked.
"W-what? No! It's just a little breezy, that's all." Mr Blair stuttered and Katie rolled her eyes. She gave her father one, long hug.
"Promise you'll write every week?" Katie asked when her and her dad broke away from the hug.
"Of course, honey." Mrs Blair smiled as Mr Blair wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Katie felt a tug at her skirt. Looking down, she saw her little brother Leo staring up at her with wide and teary eyes.
"Awh, come here you." Katie said, swooping Leo up and spinning him around. Leo giggled as Mr and Mrs Blair watched and smiled. Mrs Blair wiped her tears from under her eyes.
Katie placed Leo back on his feet and bent down so she was at his height level.
"I'm gonna miss you." Leo said sadly and he started to cry. Katie gave him a little smile and wiped his tears.
"I'll be back for Christmas. That's not even four months away. Besides, mum and dad will be at home to keep you company, yeah? Now, stop crying. You're a big boy now." Katie said, giving her brother one last hug and standing up.
"I should probably go catch up to Chris. The train should be leaving any minute." Katie announced with a hint of sadness.
After saying their final goodbyes, Mr Blair, Mrs Blair and Leo all watched with tears in their eyes as Katie grabbed her trolley and ran into the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, disappearing completely.
Katie emerged on Platform 9 3/4 and couldn't help but smile. The red steam train was already puffing small amounts of smoke. The platform was noisy and bustling. Parents were crying and saying goodbye to their children. Katie admired the scene in front of her.
Chris was standing a few feet away, waiting for his sister.
"You took your time, didn't you?" Chris joked and Katie rolled her eyes. "You can sit with me and my friends on the train if you want." Chris suggested and Katie let out a blunt laugh.
"Me, sit in a train compartment with you, Niall and Oscar? Yeah... not a chance."
Chris shrugged. "Suit yourself."
After heaving her luggage onto the Hogwarts Express, Katie scooped her black and white kitten—called Felix— up in her arms and made her way down the train corridor to find a compartment.
Most of the compartments were close to full. She glanced in to once compartment and saw Chris and his two best friends, who were already feasting on a batch of chocolate frogs. Before they could notice her, Katie quickly skipped off to find another compartment.
The only one she could find was inhabited by a single person. He had a mop of messy black hair and was staring out the window. Shrugging, Katie slid open the compartment door.
"Hey, I hope you don't mind but—"
Katie stopped talking when a pair of evergreen eyes turned to face her.
"Harry!"
"Katie!"
Katie shut the compartment door and sat down opposite the boy she had met in Diagon Alley.
"Hey, how have you been?" Katie asked and Harry shrugged.
"Alright. You?"
"Alright."
Felix curled up in Katie's lap and she stoked him gently as her and Harry got talking about anything and everything. As she looked into his green eyes. Katie couldn't help but think about how she knew Harry from somewhere. It was only when he laughed at a joke that Katie had made, and Harry swung his head back, causing his black hair to move aside that Katie noticed the distinct lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead. Her jaw dropped.
"Oh my god! You're..." Katie began but was too awestruck to finish her sentence. Harry raised and eyebrow as Katie gawped at him.
"Harry..." Harry said slowly, sounding confused.
"Harry Potter! You're Harry Potter!"
Harry sighed.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Oh my God! This is insane! I've read about you and heard stories about you, but I never thought I would actually get to meet you." Katie said excitedly. Harry just shrugged.
"I don't see why everyone gets so excited when they meet me. I'm just a normal kid who happens to be going to a school of magic." Harry shrugged. Katie furrowed her eyebrows.
"Wait, so you don't know what happened that night with... You-Know-Who...?" Katie asked. Harry shook his head.
"Only that he killed my parents but when he tried to kill me his powers were destroyed. But I probably had some protection spell or something cast on me, right?" Harry said but Katie shook her head.
"A simple protection spell wouldn't stop the most powerful dark wizard in the world, Harry." Katie said seriously. Harry just shrugged.
"Neither would a baby."
Katie was going to speak, but the compartment door sliding open cut her off.
"Do you mind? Everywhere else is full."
Katie looked up. She saw a nervous looking boy with a strangely long nose, fiery red hair, bright blue eyes and his face was pickled with freckles.
"Not at all." Harry smiled and the red-haired boy smiled back. He sat down beside Katie and along with the two boys, Katie smiled.
"I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasley." the boy said, looking between Katie and Harry.
"I'm Katie Blair." Katie said warmly, holding out her hand for Ron to shake.
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
Ron's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. His grip on Katie's hand went limp.
"Really? You really are Harry Potter? I thought Fred and George were just joking!" Ron exclaimed. Harry let out a short laugh.
"Can I see the... er—"
But Ron didn't have to finish his sentence. Harry knew what he meant. Harry pulled his fringe out of his face, revealing his lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Ron's eyes widened again.
"Wicked!" he said. Katie and Harry both giggled. Katie spoke next.
"So that's were You-Know-Who—"
"Yes." Harry said. "But I don't remember it."
"Nothing?" Ron pressed.
"Just a lot of green light. But I don't remember what happened or what Voldemort looked like." Harry said. Ron gasped and Katie's eyes widened. Harry looked between the two of them, clearly confused.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!" Ron exclaimed and Harry got a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach.
At that moment, the compartment door slid open again. This time, three boys stepped in. The one in the middle had pale skin and platinum blonde hair. Katie took note of the fact that he had beautiful silver eyes, and her breath hitched when his eyes met hers. He gave her a slight smirk before looking at Harry.
"Is it true then? Everyone on the train is saying that Harry Potter is in this compartment. Are you really him?" the blonde haired boy said to Harry.
Katie couldn't help but look at the two rather large boys who were standing on either side of Mr Silver Eyes like bodyguards.
"Oh, and these two are Crabbe and Goyle." he said, noticing where Katie was looking and pointing at both of the boys. The silver eyed boy held his hand out to Katie. Locking eyes with him, Katie reluctantly took his hand. She felt herself shrink under his cold gaze.
"What's your name?" Draco asked, though he didn't sound very polite.
"Katerina Blair. But I prefer to be called Katie."
"I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." he said and Ron snorted.
"Think my name is funny, do you?" I don't think I need to ask you yours. My father told me all about the Weasleys. Red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford." Draco sneered, looking at Ron. Ron gulped and looked down at his feet.
"You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter." Draco spoke, addressing Harry. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort." he jerked his head towards Ron. "I can help you there."
Draco held out his hand for Harry to shake. However, Harry just stared long and hard at Draco's pale hand, before re-directing his gaze to Draco's swirling eyes and saying,
"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks."
Ron smiled slightly and Draco's face went cold. Katie swore that she saw a hint of a blush on Draco's cheeks, but he covered it up with anger.
"You better watch it, Potter." Draco spat. "If you're not careful, you'll end up like your parents."
Katie, Ron and Harry all jumped to their feet. Felix also jumped to his feet and let out a great hiss.
"Say that again." Ron said through gritted teeth and Draco just smirked.
"Come on boys, I think it's time we left." Draco said, turning around as his two 'bodyguards' left the compartment. Just as Draco was about to close the door, his eyes met Katie's. They stared at each other for many moments in awkward silence and Harry and Ron shifted around uncomfortably. A weird, uncomfortable feeling bubbled up inside Katie's stomach.
"You coming then, Blair?" Draco said suddenly and Katie was taken off guard. She opened her mouth to speak but found that no words would form.
"I — what?" she managed to say. "No."
Draco shrugged, though, Katie swore she saw a little bit of disappointment in his eyes.
"Suit yourself." Draco said, and then he was gone.