Loverboy

Hogwarts, by any chance?

"Now, do you remember the platform number?" a woman said to a young girl. The two were stopped between platforms nine and ten, the large plastic numbers gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the windows. A man was pushing a luggage trolley, and also looking expectantly at the girl.

"Nine and three quarters!" the child said, bubbling with excitement. The man smiled, as did the woman.

"Yes, darling, nine and three-quarters," the man replied, patting his daughter's head. The woman was nodding along with the man's words.

To an outsider, it would appear that this couple was humoring their young daughter's daydream, but it was quite the opposite. In reality, the little girl was 11 years old, on her way to a boarding school. This magical place was called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it was, quite literally, magical.

And this girl, Olivia Sato, was equipped with a new wand, spell books, clothes, and a few handfuls of wizard's money. "Remember, best to do it at a run, Olivia," the girl's mother advised. Mr. Sato lined the trolley up with the barrier, and the girl held the handle, about to sprint into the world of magic.

"Excuse me?" a woman said to Mrs. Sato. "Is your child going to- erm- Hogwarts by any chance?" She fidgeted somewhat, a young boy standing behind her. "I-I don't know how my son is supposed to get onto the platform."

Olivia's mother smiled. "Oh, yes, my daughter is a first year. You simply pass through the barrier. Olivia, show this lady and her son how to do it." The girl ran towards the barrier, the little brown haired boy looking on in terror. She was too close to stop, she was about to crash, he braced himself for the impact, and-

She was gone. "Don't be scared you'll crash into it; just pretend the barrier isn't there," her father said, addressing the boy's look of terror and confusion. He nodded, copying the girl's actions. Closing his eyes in case he hit the barrier, he lost his balance. He opened his eyes, looking around.

"Hello," the girl from a few moments earlier said, attracting his attention. "I'm Olivia." She smiled, holding her hand out to the boy. Hesitantly, he shook her hand.

"Remus," the boy answered. "Um...."

Remus's mother and Olivia's parents slid through the barrier, smiling. Remus looked back at the girl and saw her staring in awe at a scarlet steam engine. "Oooh," Olivia let escape. The platform was bustling, but this time with students on their way to Hogwarts.

The girl quickly got her things on the train, and then pulled Remus's on as well. Once she'd returned, she bid her parents good-bye and promised to write, Remus doing the same. Suddenly, Olivia grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the train, into the compartment where she'd stored their luggage. 

Sliding into a seat, she gestured for the boy to do the same. He slid into the seat opposite her, not knowing what to do or say. "Mum's told me a bit about Hogwarts," she began. "She says that there are four Houses: Gryffindor, the brave ones; Ravenclaw, the smart ones; Hufflepuff, the good ones; and Slytherin, the ambitious ones. I wonder where I'll go?"

"Probably somewhere great. I-I didn't tell you my last name, did I?" Remus said. "Remus Lupin."

"Olivia Sato," she answered. "Muffin?" She held out a yellow muffin with dark purple specks. Blueberry.

"Alright, then," Remus said, taking the muffin. "I wonder which House I'll be in?

The train started moving right after he asked that. Slowly, the door was pushed open. Two boys stood there, looking slightly timid. Both had dark hair, one with messy jet-black curls and round glasses. The other had black hair that reached a bit past his strikingly nice chin. "Could we sit here? All the other compartments are either full or unwelcoming," the boy with the longer hair said. 

Olivia and Remus exchanged a look, and she replied, "I don't see why you wouldn't sit here. So sure." The boy with glasses sat beside Remus and the other next to Olivia. "My name's Olivia Sato," she said after a moment.

"Sirius. Sirius Black," the boy next to her said. Sirius's grey eyes twinkled as he answered. His hair framed his face beautifully.

"I'm James Potter," the bespectacled boy added. His hair was sticking up all over in the back, and it appeared that he had given up trying to make it neat.

"My name's Remus Lupin," Remus said rather quietly. Olivia smiled, Remus returning it. "Olivia, what House do you think I'll be in?" he asked, resuming their earlier conversation.

"As long as I'm not in Slytherin, I'll be happy," Sirius piped up. "My entire family's been in Slytherin. Bunch of pure-blood mania. If I'm not in Slytherin, especially if I'm in Gryffindor, they'll probably disown me."

Olivia looked shocked. "Oh my god, that's awful!" she said. Sirius shook his head.

"I hate them. I hope they disown me, I don't want to be associated with them."

"I hope I'm a Gryffindor, they're cool," James said. "I bet you two will be Gryffindors. Or maybe Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. They're the good ones." Olivia and Remus glanced at each other. "Slytherin's the bad one. You-Know-Who was in Slytherin, you know," he added.

"Well, I doubt every Slytherin is bad," Remus said. "I hope we're all in the same House, though. You guys are nice."

"Me too," Olivia added. "I hope I get Gryffindor, but I wouldn't be upset if I got a different House."

The compartment fell into silence. Olivia felt herself grow sleepy, resting her head on Sirius's shoulder and falling asleep. Sirius looked at her napping against him and just looked at James, helpless. James was trying to contain a snigger at his mate's situation.

The compartment door slid open and a plump witch stood in the doorway. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" the witch said to the group. Sirius shook Olivia awake.

"Ooh, sweets!" she said drowsily. Feeling in her pocket for her money, Olivia was left behind as Sirius and James went into the corridor. They came back with as many sweets as they could carry.

"Don't worry," James said, smiling at the girl, "it's for all of us to share." He spilled the pile of sweets in his arms in an empty seat, Sirius following suit. Olivia and Remus flushed ever so slightly, but Olivia took the opportunity to grab a pumpkin pasty.

Soon, they were back to chattering carelessly while eating all the snacks. A girl suddenly burst into the compartment. Her waist-length auburn hair swung behind her as she stood in the hallway.

"Hello," she greeted the group. "I think we'll be at Hogwarts soon, and I'd recommend you change into your school things." Her piercing green eyes scanned the group. "My name is Lily Evans, by the way."

James shot up and reached out to shake Lily's hand. "James Potter," he said. Olivia bit back a grin at that.

The others smiled and waved, saying their names. Lily nodded and left, meeting up with a short boy with greasy black hair. Olivia stood on her toes on the seat to get her robes from her trunk, the boys doing the same.

Olivia slipped out of the compartment and into the nearest toilet. She quickly changed, and winked at herself in the mirror. "Sexy," she whispered under her breath, running her fingers through her hair. She then rushed back to the compartment, knocking on the door.

A boy who wasn't Sirius, or James, or Remus opened the door. Short and mousy-haired, he looked at Olivia and back into the compartment. Olivia looked into the compartment and saw her three friends sitting there, munching on snacks, all of them in their school robes. She slid in next to Sirius once again, and took a pumpkin pasty.

The train compartment was filled with cheerful chatter all the way until Hogwarts. Olivia slid out of the compartment first, pulling Remus by the hand. The rest of the students were also filing out, so the friend group had to stick close to each other so as not to lose the people they would ultimately spend seven years to come inseparable from one another.

The castle's tallest turrets were just able to be made out against the twilight sky. They had most certainly arrived.

^ 1404 words