𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, fred weasley

˗ˋ 84

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
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-: seventh year :-

── IN WHICH THEY
REACH KING'S CROSS

. . .

The teenagers' feet were moving at an alarmingly quick rate as they followed Lupin through the streets of London, ushered in front of him when it was time to take the tube, all stood in the corner of a carriage as the darkness shot past.

"Mr Lupin, sir." Elodie spoke up as they changed lines, Ginny and George taking two spare seats and Fred holding onto the trail and Elodie's waist, the Weasley children's former teacher leaning against the back window. 

"Just Remus, Elodie." The man reminded her, having told her many times over her stay. They seemed to get on rather well, just how the Beaumont girl befriended Sirius within hours of being there.

"Is it alright if I ask why we're all splitting up and taking different routes to get to the station?" Elodie asked, feeling Fred's arm tighten around her stomach as the train jolted. 

"I suppose so." The Lupin man glanced around the packed carriage, turning to reach his hand to enclose around the red overhead rail, checking on George and Ginny before looking back to the couple in front of him.

"It's for Harry. He had to be brought to Grimmauld Place with a guard of nine wizards. Myself, Mad-Eye, Tonks and Kingsley included. Nobody knows what.." he glanced around then lowered his voice to a whisper for a single word, " - Voldemort - is doing and it was deemed safer for everyone to split up." Lupin explained. 

"So that's why Harry went with Mum and Tonks right?" Fred looked away from the muggle poster about constipation tablets. "They're interesting folk, aren't they?"

"Right." Elodie nodded slowly, eyeing her boyfriend with a slightly confused expression in her eyes. He really did seem interested in that poster. "But that makes sense.. I mean who knows when he might strike."

"It's nothing to worry about." Lupin said, standing up as they could feel the tube begin to slow. "George - Ginny, this is our stop. Fred, is that poster really that interesting?" He didn't look incredibly impressed as Fred pushed himself up off of the wall he was leaning on.

"Oh yes, Professor." Fred was still stuck with the habit from two years before. "Find it quite.. inspirational." 

The train came to a stop and the five of them hurried off, beginning up the steps - they had reached the King's Cross stop, and above them was the busy stop. 

"Inspirational?" George siddled up to his twin brother's side as they emerged into the daylight, following Lupin through entrance. "For the business inspirational?"

"Something to consider." Fred shrugged. "Woah there-" He grabbed onto Elodie's shoulders as she almost crashed into a muggle, eyes focused upwards as she looked all around the station. "I forgot you hadn't been here before." He grinned.

"This way, you lot." Lupin directed them through the crowds until the reached the space between Platform 9 and 10. "So who's going to show Elodie how this works?" 

Fred slid closer towards her, taking her hand. "Don't worry, love. Just run at this wall with me?" 

"What?" Elodie's eyes widened. "This better not be some obscure flirting technique from that weird book you gave Ron the other week, is it?" But before she could recieve an answer, Fred had pulled her towards the red brick wall and straight through it. "Holy crap." She breathed out as the boy beside her pulled her out of the way, George and Ginny then Lupin following in behind her.

The adult began to lead them down the platform. Already, Mrs and Mr Weasley were there, as were Tonks, Mad-Eye, Ron, Hermione and Harry - as well as Sirius in the lolloping black dog version of himself.

"No trouble?" Mad-Eye growled as they approached, Lupin shaking his head briefly. "I'll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore." The auror continued. "That's the second time he's not turned up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus."

"Well, look after yourselves." Lupin said, shaking hands all round reaching Harry and giving him a clap on the shoulder. "You too, Harry. Be careful. Elodie, enjoy your first and last year at Hogwarts."

The black dog licked her on the hand, and had he been in his human form, Sirius most likely would have given her an elaborate goodbye - all in French.

"Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled." Moody said, shaking Harry's hand too. "And don't forget, all of you- careful what you put in writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all."

"It's been great meeting all of you." Tonks reached and hugged Elodie, then Hermione and Ginny. "We'll see you soon, I expect.""

A warning whistle sounded; the students still on the platform started hurrying onto the train. "Quick, quick." Mrs Weasley said distractedly, hugging them at random and catching Elodie twice. "Write... Be good... If you've forgotten anything we'll send it on... Onto the train, now, hurry..."

They just about managed to get through the door and slam it as the train pulled out, Sirius in his dog form bounding along the platform, the figures of Tonks, Lupin, Moody, and Mr and Mrs Weasley shrinking. And as they flew past the last corner of the platform, Sirius disappeared from sight.

And just like that, Elodie was on her way to Hogwarts as an actual student.

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