New Beginnings

The train

Autumn came fast this year. The crisp air and the crackling of dead leaves on the ground only meant one thing for Nix... the start of school. Except this year she was not returning to her Muggle school, no, this year she was going to a new school, one that before she got her letter earlier this year she had never heard of. Not even from her mother who she later came to know was a witch, who 20 years prior attended the very same school, high in the Scottish mountains.

As she and her mother drove to Kings Cross Station many things suddenly washed through her mind. This was all new to her, she was raised in the muggle world, not knowing anything about witches and wizards except the small details in fairytales and childrens books. Her mother attempted to explain as much as she could in the drive but Nix couldn't wrap her head around it She was still trying to come to terms with what happened in Diagon Alley the week prior.

Finally the drive was over, even though it was only twenty minutes it still felt like hours. As they walked through the station many people gave them weird looks, however when nix and her mother saw other people pushing massive trolleys with animals on top it gave her peace of mind to know she wasn't the only one. As they turned a corner Nix just briefly saw someone disappear into a wall.

 " Mum what was that?" she said. "How did they just go through the wall?" 

" Its magic" her mother exclaimed, a little smirk appearing on her face. " We have to go through there to get to the Hogwarts Express".

" The train to take me to Hogwarts is in there?" Nix said, confusion spreading through her head.

" Yes darling" her mother said. " Now hold on tight, were gonna have to run" Her mother grabbed the trolley and the two raced towards the wall between platforms nine and ten. Expecting to hit the wall with a massive crash, Nix was surprised to open her eyes on the other side of the wall, facing a massive red train that was producing enough steam to block her vision. As her mother guided her through the crowd of people desperately trying to get onto the train in time her mother seemed to recognise a few faces.

Before she could say hello they disappeared onto the train. her mother looked down at her watch and realized it was almost 11, and the train was about to leave. As Nixs luggage was taken her mother ushered her onto the train. tears streaming down her face, her mother attempted to comfort her.

" Its only until Christmas darling, ill see you soon! Ill write every week I promise" her mother said, tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of her sad daughter.

Without a word they hugged, just one last time before the doors shut. nix managed to stick her head out of a nearby window and waved to her mother as the train drove off. Before she knew it, the train turned a corner and she was no longer able to see her mother. Tears still streaming down her face , she found an empty compartment. just after she sat down a girl appeared outside the compartment. 

" Hi, my names Jupiter, can I sit?" said the girl.

"Of course" said Nix, fighting back tears

" Are you excited?" asked Jupiter. 

"Not really, I don't know anything about Hogwarts" said Nix. Jupiter could sense Nix had been crying so she decided to cheer her up.

" My sister is in third year" she said with pride. " She says there's a trolley with sweets that comes up and down the train, I can buy you something if you want!"

"That would be great" said Nix, a smile lifting up her face.

The girls continued to bond over the next few hours on the train. When they reached Hogwarts they all proceeded to get off the train, nix heard someone mention the name "harry potter". she recalled her mother mentioning something about him in the car but she didn't think much of it. As Nix and Jupiter got off the train she bumped into a girl called Trudy, she appeared to be confused about where to go, even with the massive man near the front of the train guiding the massive crowd of first years.

" Its ok don't worry! you can come with us!" said Nix .

" Thanks so much, I'm so lost" Trudy said with a nervous shaky voice. As they rode the boats across the massive lake that was darker than the night sky above them, the were in aw of the beautiful castle that was before them. From then it was all a blur. everything seemed to happen so quick. Before they knew it, they were standing in front of the entire hall of students waiting to be sorted. It was Nixs turn. before she even had time to think the sorting hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF". Nix made her way over to the massive table of students cheering her on. she sat next to Trudy and a girl called Maia. 

Suddenly a voice all too familiar started to talk. everything started to fill into place. Nixs visions of a simpler time faded away. She was back, back in this dreadful reality of Umbridge being the headmistress. She stood at the stop of the Great Hall watching like a hawk as her students were tortured by her means...