Sabrina ; The next generation

Thirty-eight

After saying goodbye to my dad, I got onto the train, looking for somewhere to sit.

The usual chatter among students as well as the laughter was annoying me and I fantasised about smacking some of those new first-years across the face.

But I didn't.

I carried my backpack over one shoulder, looking through the windows to the different compartments but most of them were full.

I came to a halt when I saw Adriana and Theo at the other end of the corridor, Theo opening a door to a compartment and Adriana almost entering but stopping when her eyes landed on me.

She looked up at Theo and said something before she approached me quickly, her jaw tense.

"Fuck you." She spat the second she walked up to me.

I raised my eyebrows.

There was no possible way that my dad had already turned her dad in so she couldn't be pissed about that.

"Fuck you right back then." I scoffed before nodding in the direction of Theo. "Go back to your boyfriend and leave me alone if you don't have anything nice to say to me."

"Anything nice to say?" She laughed. "As if you're such a saint."

What is she talking about?

"Listen, I don't know if you're mad that I tried to protect you... if that's the reason, then I'm fucking glad we aren't on speaking terms because why should I spend any time on a person who doesn't care that I try to protect her?"

"Protect me?" She scoffed. "You're making it all worse like always, Sabrina and then when I need you the most, you're not even there."

I frowned as I looked towards Theo who was looking out way while leaning against the wall. Then I looked down at Adriana again.

"Get your priorities straight, yeah? You want me to be there for you but when I am, you get pissed? What the fuck is your issue?!"

"I called you around twenty times after my dad—" she sighed. "I needed you, but it's fine. I had Theo."

"Is that what this is all about?" I laughed. "I was taking a shower which I told you on the phone! I took a long needed shower after seeing my brother overdose and almost die!"

Adriana rolled her eyes.

"All I hear is excuses."

What...

"Why the fuck would I lie about that? Alec almost died, Adri! I'm sorry you weren't exactly my first priority at the moment but if you had told me what had happened, I would have been there, even though my brother was in the hospital."

"Yeah, sure," she faked a smile.

"You know what?" I laughed. "Ask Theo. He knows that Alec was in the hospital. I don't know why he hasn't bloody told you seeing as it's his cousin, but go ask him. I'm done with this shit and having you treat me like this."

Adriana took a step back and looked me up and down before turning around to walk back to Theo who sent me a look of sympathy.

Well this is great.

"You can sit with us." I heard Hannah's voice from behind me, and when I turned around to see her stand with James, I gulped.

"She can?" James asked.

I thought they had broken up.

"No thanks." I chuckled. "I'll— I'll find somewhere else."

I turned back around and made my way down the corridor with so much speed that I didn't see where I was walking, eventually bumping into a girl.

"Oh shit." I cursed, struggling to keep my balance but she held out a hand and helped support me while laughing softly.

"You alright?"

She had a thick Irish accent and as I looked at her, she cocked an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips.

Shit.

"Yeah, I'm—" I chuckled. "I'm really sorry about that. I've been told I'm quite clumsy."

She hummed.

"I bet."

It was my turn to cock an eyebrow.

"You're Sabrina, right?" She asked, brushing a hand through her long dark hair.

"Yep." I nodded. "And I totally know who you are."

She laughed and held out a hand, waiting for me to shake it before introducing herself.

"Naomi Barracus." She said. "I only know who you are because of your mother. I'm a big feminist so she's been kind of a role model."

"Oh? Well I understand. She's my role model too."

"Well, being her daughter and all, it's considered a tad more normal for you to look up to her." She joked, the two of us chuckling lightly. "Hey, I'm going to be sitting alone for the ride to Hogwarts. Do you want to join me? A ride that long tends to get boring quick."

"Sure. My friends have abandoned me anyways."

"Abandoned you?" She asked and led the way into the compartment she had claimed. "Doesn't sound like real friends to me."

"One of them is my cousin." I said and sat down by the window, Naomi sitting across from me. "And the one who's been my friend since forever is his girlfriend."

"Theodore and Adriana, right?" She asked, and I nodded. "Yeah, I know who they are. I'm not too fond of your cousin if I have to be honest."

I frowned.

"Why not?"

"He seems like one of those jealous types, that's all." She told me. "We have a few classes together and I'm great at picking up odd vibes, but he's your cousin and you know him better than I do."

I hummed.

I do know Theo better. I've grown up with him. He's my favourite cousin if I have to be honest.

"What house are you in?" I decided to ask. "You seem familiar but— wait.."

Naomi smirked as I realised where I had seen her before.

"You play for Slytherin. You're the beater who hit Adriana with a bludger a few years ago, causing her to drop the Quaffle."

"Guilty as charged." She chuckled. "I was waiting for you to recognise me. We've only been in the same year for six years and shared classes for five."

"Honestly, I'm terrible of faces." I said. "But now that you said it, I do recognise you. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"How come you were going to sit in a compartment all by yourself?"

Naomi chuckled and mimicked the position I sat in, knees spread, leaned forward with elbows resting on the thighs.

"I'm kind of a loner." She said. "I don't do well in groups and I'm just trying to get through school to go work with my dad. Plus, let's be honest... most of the people in our year are arseholes and not someone I'd want to socialise with."

I hummed.

"I can't help but agree with that."

-

Presenting Naomi Barracus