Caught in the Crowd {James Potter}

Chapter 1: I'll Find You

Chapter 1: I'll Find You

Freya Hawkins did her best to stay out of mischief. Which often proved more than a challenge than many would think. It seemed that in both her home life and school life, she was never able to step away from it. Not that she abhorred mischief—no, not at all. It was fun to speculate from a distance. And that is where her problem arose from; she always somehow was dragged into it against her will.

With a red trunk in hand that had her name engraved on a golden plate, Freya chased a much shorter figure through the crowd of Platform 9 ¾. "Eugene," she called. "Eugene!" Instead of stopping and waiting for her as the intone of her voice commanded, her younger brother sped up, his laughter like a bread trail for her to follow, weaving through legs and arms. A sensible part of her suggested that she potentially overreacted to her brother's disappearing form. He was in second year, after all. If she didn't chase him, he would likely stop after realising. But stopping meant that she wouldn't see the back of his head and then what would he get up to? She could barely trust him to get on the train in time.

A figure emerging from the thicket of the crowd abruptly ended her chase. A gasp erupted from her at the same time as a painful thud resonated through her skull. "Bloody hell!" With the momentum on her side, the figure in front of her absorbed the force of the impact, tumbling backwards. She nearly went head over heels atop of him. She could tell it was a him by the low, guttural cry. Though she wasn't one to judge if she was proved wrong.

The pair sprawled across the platform, one of the trunks unlatching and spewing an assortment of books and clothes. People swerved from the sight of impact, avoiding a book spinning across the cement.

"Hawkins?"

Freya pressed her hands into the ground and pushed herself off the body. At the sight of who lay underneath her, her head dropped with relief. "Oh, Potter." She gave a breathless laugh and rolled off him. "It's just you."

'Just you' Potter was a member of not only her Hogwarts House but a Gryffindor in the same year. They had spent some quality time in close quarters. Running him over was probably a fortune rather than it being somebody else. He had a head of messy, short black hair and squared frames upon his nose that ever so slightly sloped inwards. It was no surprise to see him in a long shirt and grey vest over top.

"Just me?" James Potter spluttered. He cradled his side, feigning agony. "I think you broke a rib."

"Oh, James, do get off the floor dear."

Freya's head snapped upwards, finding two elderly forms standing near them. She tore to her feet, brushing off her pants and hands. With a strained throat, she greeted, "Mrs and Mr Potter. It's nice to see you again."

Euphemia Potter raised her brows mirthfully. "Freya. I think I saw your brother just run past."

Freya took a long breath and nodded aimlessly. "Yes, hence my chase." She glanced down to James who was still in the process of picking himself off the floor. "Sorry 'bout that."

The boy picked his frames off his nose and checked over the glass. They were fine. They both looked towards the trunks. At least it was hers that went flying open. "Yep," he coughed. "No worries. Run into me any day you like."

Freya smiled despite his derisive tone. Another boy with similarly dark hair, but strands that sported around his neck rather than a short mess, sprang out of nowhere. "Another girl falling at Jamey's feet?"

Sirius Black was a masterpiece... According to the many not so subtle whispers girls made in the halls. They clearly hadn't seen him with snot running down his nose because he accidentally set off a bomb from Zonko's before he could plant it. Freya had tried to warn him and had to spend an entire afternoon dealing with him.