Werewolves, Vampires, and Witches

The Hogwarts Express

Above: Ella (right) and Ember (left)

Lily

As soon as we arrived, I was overcome with nerves. What if I didn't fit in? What if I failed?

I scowled at my fears. Why would I want to fit in? Why on Earth would I fail? All the same, one nagging doubt remained in the back of my mind- What it I failed my family?

Of course, such thoughts were preposterous. My parents expected me to do my best, not the best.

But what if I messed up? What if I did something horribly wrong?

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. I hoped so badly to be in Gryffindor, like the rest of my family. But Ravenclaw didn't seem so bad. Nor did Hufflepuff. Really, I'd rather be Sorted anywhere but Slytherin.

"Oh, look, there they are," I heard Mum say.

I looked up. Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron stood with our cousins Rose and Hugo right by the secret entrance of Platform 9 3/4.

Hugo is my age. Rose is two years older than I am, in the same year as Albus. Rose and Albus are the two smartest people in our family- and their year, I think. Not surprising for Rose, seeing as her mother was the best student in her year at every subject except Defense Against the Dark Arts. That title goes to my dad.

If I was going to be good at something, I hoped it was Defense. I seem to have inherited my dad's knowledge for the subject. Of course, there was always the chance that there was someone better at it than me.

"Lily, are you listening?" Aunt Hermione's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Sorry, I was thinking about other things."

"Well, you'd better get on the train. It's almost eleven," Mum put in.

I quickly hugged my parents, then left to find a compartment with my brothers and cousins.

James, Albus, Rose, and Hugo left with their friends, leaving me alone.

I wondered if I should follow them, then quickly discarded the idea.

"Hello," a girl's voice said behind me.

I turn. There stood two girls who looked exactally alike, right down to the vibrant blue, of their eyes and the gentle waves of their red hair.

"Hi," I replied nervously.

"I'm Ember, and this is my sister Ella," the girl introduced.

Ella looked kind enough. Until then she had avoided direct eye contact with me, but when Ember said her name, she looked up and smiled shyly at me.

Ember, on the other hand, looked like the outgoing kind. She beamed radiantly at me and never broke eye contact.

"I'm Lily," I said, still nervous about the newcomers.

Ella smiled more confidently at me. "Lily. It's a pretty name," she said.

"Thanks."

"Want to come sit with us?" Ember offered.

I smiled, grateful for the offer. "Of course."