Marauder's Daughter (Eventual Tom Riddle X OC)

Chapter 9: Hogwarts

Bruce was a great addition to our family. I loved him a lot, and once I stopped giggling every time I said his name, I got to really know him. He was very loyal to me, though he also liked Dad and Remus. He ate fresh fruit, seeds, or insects, which made me love him even more since I hate bugs. He was nocturnal, but he could still function during the day, just less happily. Bruce isn't blind and does seem to have some type of sight, but mostly uses echolocation to get around. I let him out at night to wander around and hunt for insects or flower seeds, and I'm happy he always comes back early in the morning and sleeps in his cage all day.

Dad helped me craft a dark cage to keep him in, and we figured I could smuggle him into Hogwarts in my robes. Remus tried scolding us, but when we both gave him a deadpan expression, he just sighed and let it happen. Dad was all for me breaking this rule, and he liked Bruce a lot, just not that I seemed attached to yet another 'dark' thing.  I just can't wait to show the twins my new friend.

"Alright Princess, everything packed and ready to go?" Dad calls out on the morning of September 1st, 1989, my first day of Hogwarts. It was a Friday, and the train leaves at 11, so we woke up early in order to get there plenty early. We were going to ride to London on the bike, and Remus was going to meet us there to say goodbye at the train, because I insisted he be there too. He originally just said he was going to say goodbye at home, but I wasn't having it. He always tries to distance himself from us in public, and it makes both me and Dad sad.

"Yup, and Bruce is asleep and ready to go too." I say cheerily, indicating to my packed trunk and Bruce's covered cage.

"Alright, then, I guess... it's time to go." Dad says sadly, and he waves his wand and my trunk and cage float into the sidecar and secure themselves magically inside of it.

"Dad, are you getting misty over there?" I say teasingly, but go and give him a big hug. "Come on, old man. You'll be ok with me gone." I enjoy calling him old man, because he's not even 30 yet and is in the prime of his life. It makes him scoff every time, this time is not an exception.

"You're kind of great, of course I'm going to miss you, my little trouble maker." He kisses the top of my head and we make our way to the bike and I get on behind him. He puts a helmet on my head and smiles one more time at me, and we set off on the long ride to London again. 

It was a peaceful ride, and I rested against my dad's strong back the whole ride there, hugging him tightly. I'm going to miss him while I'm at school, but I'll be home for breaks to see him and Remus, and I'll send letters with Bruce often.

We make it to King's Cross with time to spare, and load a trolley up with my stuff. We walk briskly through the station until we get to platforms 9 and 10, and Dad leads us to a specific barrier.

"Together?" He asks me softly, a hand on my shoulder.

"Together." I grin at him, and we walk straight through the barrier. I see the famous Hogwarts Express for the first time, and it's a beautiful scarlet steam engine. I read the sign that says platform 9¾, and I'm bouncing with happiness.

"Abby!" I hear called out to me, and I turn and see the twins running full speed at me. They pull me into a big hug, which I return happily.

"Gits!" I cheer happily into their ears, and I hear Dad laughing loudly. The twins have been over to our cottage several times, but it's more often that I go to their house, so Dad doesn't get the pleasure of dealing with us together as much.

"Abby, I can't tell if I'm excited to see you three together in Hogwarts with me, or terrified." Charlie says jovially, joining us where I'm standing.

"I'm sad I won't see it, I bet it would be hilarious. The trio of trouble." Bill adds in cheekily, joining us as well as all the other Weasleys. He just graduated from Hogwarts and is already interning at Gringotts. Ginny runs and gives me a big hug too, which I return and spin her tiny eight year old body around.