Forever... Always

Year 2 - Platform 9 ¾/Hogwarts Express/Sorting Feast

This morning I woke up happier than ever. Our kitchen was finally set up so my mom decided to make a nice breakfast, but she also did it because I'm going back to Hogwarts today for my second year. Just as we'd done last year multiple times, I'd be meeting the Weasleys and Diggorys at King Cross station and we'd head to Hogwarts together. I couldn't decide what to wear, I know I'll only wear it till we're about 10 minutes from Hogwarts, but I still wanted to look good till I have to put my robe on. I decided I'd wear a cute black pair of shorts with a simple maroon shirt. I put my hair up in a high ponytail with an elegant black velvet scrunchie and made a mental note to wear my white converse. Once dressed, I made my way to the kitchen for breakfast.
    "Here you are darling." My mom said as she handed me a plate of french toast.
    "Oh wow! Thank you mom." I said, taking the plate from her.
    "Are you all packed kiddo?" My dad asked as he sat down at the table.
    "Are you kidding? You know me, I've packed since we got here. Not that I don't love the house, I really do..."
    "It's ok, we know that you love Hogwarts and with how close we moved to when the school year starts, we knew you'd be packed for school already, don't worry about it sweetie." My dad said, cutting me off so that I didn't ramble.
    "I can't come along to the station this time, we have plumbers coming and your dad insisted that he take you." My mom said a while after sitting down at the table and eating some french toast she made.
    "It's ok mom, I understand." I said finishing my plate.
    My dad told me to go grab my trunk and Daisy because we'd be leaving shortly. I ran to my room and got my stuff and brought it all to the front door. While my dad helped my mom with dishes, I let Daisy out in the backyard to catch a mouse or two. Once she had her breakfast, she got into her cage and my dad was ready to go. I put on my white converse and was almost out the door when my mom stopped me.
    "Je t'aime ma chèri" (I love you my darling in French).
    "Je t'aime aussi maman." (I love you too mom in French).
    My mom had me learn French, she jokes that it was so we could have secret conversations without my dad understanding, but it was also so that I could better understand her when she wants something to mean more. I know that she told me she loved me in French because she really wanted to mean it.
    As per usual, we met the Weasleys and Diggorys at King Cross. This year our parents decided they wouldn't come through the wall with us as all of us have already done it and they'd come through the next two years as that'd be when Ron and Ginny would come along. For a normal flow, we went mostly oldest to youngest, Charlie went through, Percy, Fred followed and then it was me because similarly to our first year, George insisted 'Ladies First', but this year, Cedric did as well. I ran through the wall to platform 9 ¾ with the tiniest bit of nervousness that completely disappeared as I was greeted by Fred on the other side. Soon after George and Cedric appeared and we got on the train as we had multiple times the year prior. We got in our compartment but soon after we left the station, the twins disappeared for a dangerously long time.
    "They've been gone too long, I know they're pulling a prank, I have to..." I said and just as I was getting up to find them and stop them, Cedric grabbed my wrist and just maintained eye contact for a few seconds.
    "Maybe leave it alone? If you find them just as they're finishing whatever they're up to you'll get in trouble too. You'll have plenty of opportunities to stop them or tone down their pranks once we're at Hogwarts." He said, pulling me back to my seat with begging eyes that I don't get involved.
    "Fine, but you won't be able to stop me throughout the year." I said, wishing he wouldn't do that again, that being making things about me. I don't like being the center of everything, I'm not any more special than anyone else and I've always lived in a home that made me the center, being an only child and all.
    "Ok, as long as you aren't risking things for yourself for them. They're more trouble makers than you are, you know it. Don't let their reputation bring down yours. Please Rayne." He said with those begging eyes again.
    "I don't have a reputation, no one knows who I am and they only pay attention to me to get to you and the twins. You three are popular, I'm just another second year Hufflepuff girl."
    "So you're a social loner?"
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "I didn't mean it in a bad way Rayne, your best friends are the most popular boys in our year and you barely keep around any other friends, you're incredibly sociable, but you refuse to accept it and somehow manage to spend so much time alone. You could be just as popular as the three of us, but you're even more modest than I am."
    "Are you just going to pick apart my personality or are you giving advice because so far I feel like a puzzle you're taking apart one piece at a time."
    "Fine, I'm done for now, don't expect it to last too long." Cedric said standing up and winking at me.
    "What is that about? Why'd... NOOO!!" I exclaimed as he basically charged at me and started tickling me. "NOO PLEASE CEDRIC STOP HAHA!"
    "WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS HAPPENING IN HERE?!?" Georgie yelled as he entered the compartment with Fred trailing behind him. Cedric jumped up and sat in his seat faster than I ever seen anyone move.
    "Language Georgie!" I snapped back. Why would he be so upset? He left me and Cedric and he was only tickling me, they all do so what was the difference this time?
"I'm sorry Rayne, I just..." He started.
"You just what? Leave with Fred for almost the whole train ride and then come and get mad at me and Cedric for having fun? Did I mention you left us? Oh yeah, I did, I'm sorry I forgot my place." I snapped snarcally.
"Rayne, I heard you yelling stop so I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"Why wouldn't I be? Cedric has always been caring and kind. Why is it not ok that he tickles me? You all have, there's no difference, I love you all equally."
"I... uh..."
"I'm sorry I made such a scene, we'll talk about this tomorrow before breakfast."
"Why not tonight?"
"Georgie, you know that we go right to our dorms after the sorting feast. Now excuse me, we're almost at Hogwarts and I need to get my robe on."
I just don't understand, why was he acting like this? It's not like him. I put on my robe and returned to the compartment. When I sat down, I saw Georgie's face, he was giving me his apologetic look. He gives this look when he feels like he can't physically say 'I'm sorry', he wants to, that's why he gives the look, but he just can't. In the past I'd been able to know exactly why he was giving the look, but right now, I'm pretty uncertain. I know it has to do with our fight, but usually he'd just apologize, but now, he's giving the look and I know I'm going to be up late trying to figuring out why.
Once we got off the train, just like the year before, we walked through a trail to the boats at the lakeside. We got off at the other side and were escorted to the Great Hall. I gave Georgie a hug before going to the Hufflepuff table to let him know I'm not cross and that I accept his apology.
Obviously this year we weren't being sorted, so we patiently waited for all the first years to get sorted. After they all got sorted, Dumbledore gave his speech, which included that tryouts for quidditch teams would be the day after Halloween, we ate the feast and were led to our common rooms. Cedric and I sat on the couch together for a while before we decided to head to our dorms. I was almost ready to turn off the lights when I realized that someone else had their stuff in the room and as if on cue, a girl appeared in the doorway.
"Oh hi! You must be my dorm mate! Sorry to surprise you, there wasn't enough room in the first years' dorms for all of us and you had room in your dorm. If you have a problem with me being here I'm sure Professor Sprout can figure something else out for me." She said, slowing having it turn into rambling.
"Hi, this isn't a problem, I wouldn't mind having someone else around, I'm Rayne Dutchman and your name is?"
"Oh my! Where are my manners? I'm Amber Buttonwood."
"Nice to meet you Amber! I hope we can become good friends."
"I'd absolutely adore that Rayne!"
"In the meantime, we should get to bed, goodnight."
"Oh yes, goodnight. See you in the morning."
After a while, I could hear that Amber had fallen asleep, but I didn't, nor could I. I couldn't stop thinking about why Georgie gave me his apologetic look. I need to get to bed, I'll ask him in the morning before breakfast.