The Raven's Call

Flying Ford Anglia

Tuesday, September 1st, 1992

I arrive at King's Cross station, bid farewell to Cedric's parents, and run through the wall between platforms 9 and 10. I take my trolley over to the rest of the suitcases before entering the train, finding an empty compartment for myself, like I had the year before. I take out my book and read. The train blasts its horn at exactly 11:00AM before taking off. A few hours later, I'm joined by Hermione, looking worried. "Everything okay?" I ask as she takes a seat across from me. She sighs softly, tapping her foot. "I can't find Harry or Ron anywhere." I lower my book, smiling with a hint of concern. "I'm sure they'll turn up, Hermione. They're probably up to some sort of mischief or something, as per usual." "I hope you're right. They worry me, those boys. All the Gryffindor boys seem to be troublemakers in our year, in some way or another." She giggles a little, a wistful look crossing her face as she glances out the compartment window. I watch her for a moment, Alex was right to have a crush on her, she's gorgeous. I wouldn't dare to try anything, though, Alex would have my head. "You're welcome to stay here, by the way. I enjoy your company." I tell her, closing the book in my lap. "Plus, that necklace Alex gave you sends a pleasant smell any time you're around." I add with a chuckle. "Oh, yeah? What do you smell?" She asks, curiously. "I smell.." I close my eyes, envisioning each smell. "Quill ink.. aniseed- or.. licorice .. and.."  Suddenly, I hear a noise. It sounds like something bounding down the carriage, getting closer and closer before popping into view. It was a girl, skipping past the compartments, her long, dirty blonde hair trailing down past her shoulders, with a distinct airy feel about her. We lock eyes, just for a moment. They're a silvery-grey colour, vaguely reminiscent of Asteria's, and I'm instantly transfixed. My heart begins to beat wildly, and I feel short of breath. "Petrichor..."  I say, staring at the space the blonde girl had once occupied. "Petrichor?" She asks, tilting her head. "The smell of rain hitting the warm ground." I say with a smile, turning back to Hermione, now. "What do you smell?" I ask, removing myself from my trance. "I smell.. freshly mown grass, new parchment and.. fresh snow." I grin, knowing that last smell all too well, my best friend. Alex.

"What was that sound..?" Hermione asks, looking back out the window. It was muffled screaming. I look out the window to see a flying Ford Anglia, tipped sideways, with a red head driver and a scruffy haired boy hanging out of the door. "See, told you. Mischief." I say in bewilderment, watching as Ron pulls Harry back into the car. I hear Hermione let out a disappointed sigh as she sits back down, and I can't help but chuckle. I pull out my journal and inform Alex on what I just saw, adding 'the things you miss, living in Hogsmeade' the writing disappearing a moment later, I hear a small gasp from beside me. "How did you do that?!" Hermione exclaims, taking the book from me, flipping through the empty pages. "Uhh.. magic?" I say with a goofy grin. She rolls her eyes. "What kind of magic?" She asks with a grin. "Extremely advanced magic?" I say as Alex's reply shows on the page 'am deceased' in his Gryffindor coloured handwriting. "That was Alex?" She asks, recognising the penmanship. The message fades once more as I take back the journal. "I made these for myself and Alex to communicate with Asteria over the holidays.. since her father has a stick up his arse about her associating with non-pure bloods." I say, closing the book. She looks at me, excited. "Oh, you must teach me someday!" She exclaims. I chuckle softly. "Ask Professor Dumbledearest." I say with a grin, to which she laughs.

The rest of the train ride is quiet as the two of us read our books together. Bandit sleeps beside me as Hermione's cat Crookshanks sleeps beside her, purring away. The pleasant smell of petrichor fills my nostrils every so often, and I can't help but to glance over at the compartment door, hoping the blonde haired girl would skip past again. But she doesn't.

We watch as the first years all get off the train before the rest of us, being led by Hagrid towards the lake and the boats, like we had exactly a year ago. And the rest of us take the carriages, Alex comes along for the ride. Myself, Hermione, Alex and Neville share a cart, which magically pulls itself towards the school. "Wait, so, you saw Ron - like Ronald Weasley - driving a car?" Alex asks. "FLYING a car" I correct him. "That lucky git.." He spoke, making the three of us laugh. "Yeah, but he almost killed Harry." Hermione spoke up. "Someone should revoke his license-" I joke, causing the others to laugh. Neville doesn't talk much, but he still laughs along with us, which I appreciate. I tell Alex about the blonde girl I saw on the train, and how, without even knowing her.. I am completely and utterly infatuated.

***
We enter the Great Hall for dinner and the sorting ceremony, so we must all sit at our respective house tables, leaving a big space for the new first years. I kinda zone out, awaiting dinner, my tummy grumbling. "RAVENCLAW!" The Sorting hat blares as a girl with long blond hair skipped towards my house table, finding a seat right next to me. It's her. The girl from the train. "Hello." The girl speaks, her voice just as light and airy as her appearance. She smells of petrichor. Petrichor. She holds out her hand to shake mine. "Luna Lovegood." I shake her hand, trying to scrape my jaw from the floor. "A-Atticus Grey-" I manage to stammer out as our hands detach from one another, her attention turning back towards the sorting ceremony. 'Why am I stammering ..?' I think to myself, looking down at the hand that shook hers. Now I know how Alex feels when he looks at Hermione. I'm in trouble.