All the lies // D.M.

1 - Welcome back

Cathleen Avery

They say the best things in life come unexpectedly – yet for me, that was never the case. Everything in my life was planned out from day one, no surprises, no detours. And yet, somehow, I'm standing here at the end of summer, feeling like I'm stumbling in the dark, pretending I know where I'm going. Pretending that I want to keep going.

As the breeze hit my face, the last of summer clung to the air like a desperate memory meaning warmth still hung around, but it felt fragile, as if it would fade any second. The silver watch on my wrist mocked me—two minutes left to catch the train, so I forced myself to pick up the pace, but every step felt heavier, as though each one was dragging me closer to a future I wasn't sure I could face. Normally I was always on time but nothing about my life seemed normal anymore.

I could already picture Snape's cold, calculating eyes if I missed the train. His look of disappointment would cut deeper than any detention but that wasn't what I dreaded the most — no. What I dreaded was the familiar ache that would hit me the second I set foot on Platform 9 ¾. All those goodbyes—mothers and fathers hugging their children, tears, laughter... I couldn't bear to watch, so I managed to be as late as possible. A sharp sting burned behind my eyes, knowing how I had no parents to say goodbye to this year and I blinked hard, swallowing down the emotion. No. Not here. Not now.

I quickly kissed my aunt goodbye before running towards the only girl left on the platform, impatiently standing next to the door, arms crossed, looking every bit the "mom" of the group. I made some lame joke about her motherly scowl when I reached her, but the truth was, I was grateful. Grateful for her normalcy. Grateful she was still a constant in my life when everything else was spinning out of control.

Valerie.

All those years ago, I almost exploded in excitement when I first boarded the train. I loved going to Hogwarts, it's where I grew up, and where I found my best friend. The same person who had been waiting for me today.

Once on the train, it didn't take long for it to start moving and it didn't take long for her to give me that look – concern was written all over her face. "You almost missed the train," she said and stopped us, staring into my eyes. Her sky-blue ones filled with unease, making my heart clench. I hated that look, it made me feel exposed like she could see straight through the mask I had so carefully constructed.

"Correct, Val. Almost." I tried to brush it off with a smirk, but when she pressed, asking if I was okay, I had to look away and started picking at the skin on my nails. My blonde hair fell into my face. "I'm fine," I sighed, "I overslept." I couldn't lie to her convincingly, but I wasn't ready to talk either. Not here. Not now. Not ever.

"I can understand that it's difficult to come back. You didn't have the best year." She sounded so sad, so worried about me, it made my eyes burn with guilt. "I'm here if you want to talk, okay?" she squeezed my hand and smiled – a pitiful smile, making me feel even worse. I just nodded, not strong enough to come up with another lie again.

"I mean it, Cathy. Please come to me if something is wrong."

"I will, I promise," I reassured her, squeezing her hand back.

"Avery!" someone yelled from a little further down I looked past the brunette girl in front of me and my eyes met the green ones of a young boy with curly, black hair waving his hand for us to come over, so Valerie and I continued our way to the boy waving at us — Theodore Nott.

By the time we got to the compartment, I felt the familiar discomfort settle in my chest. Theo, Blaise, Pansy... and him.

Draco Malfoy – sitting there like he owned the world. "Oh great, little Miss Perfect didn't miss the train after all. What a sad day for all of us," he snapped. His platinum blonde hair caught the light, his smirk already waiting to tear me down