SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 1- the platform

Why is it already September? I put on a poker face, but the butterflies in my stomach remind me how nervous I really am. Why am I sweating? My palms are so clammy. Gross. It's been an intense couple months with the move, dad's new job, and now starting a new school. As my gaze wanders out the window at the buildings zipping past my mind drifts back to May.

"Melanie, we have to move." Mom had said calmly as we sat in front of the small cafe in our neighborhood.

"Move? Did dad get a new assignment?" I asked as I sipped on a chai.

"Sort of. He's been offered a job with the Ministry of Magic in England, in the Department of Mysteries."

"Oh." was all I could say. "England. So that would mean I wouldn't be going back to Ilvermorny."

"Yes, sweetheart, I know how hard this must be to hear. It's going to be a big change, but it will be an adventure. And you dad is really excited about this new job, it could mean so many things for our future." We were both quiet for a moment. "Please say something." I thought for another moment, trying to process the news.

"I heard that they allow owls in Europe, can I get an owl?" She looked at me stunned.

"Yeah, of course, anything you need."

It was difficult to tell my friends, especially the No-Mag ones. I was still able to tell them that we were moving because my dad got a new job, but they were still confused. Lots of them asked why I couldn't just come back to the same "boarding school". Daphne had taken it particularly hard. We have been friends since our first night at Ilvermorny after being sorted into the same house. Same classes, same room, we did everything together. We had made it a priority to send letters and even one rather expensive phone call over the summer. I knew it would be more difficult to send letters while at school since Hogwarts was far up in the countryside away from all cities. Hogwarts. What a weird name for a school. But then again, Ilvermorny isn't exactly something you hear everyday in America. The trip to Diagon Alley was what really started my nerves. It was crazy seeing so many witches and wizards in one place. Since America is so big and there are a few schools smaller than Ilvermorny in other parts of the country it was rare to see such a big group. I remember being thankful I didn't need to get a new wand, every shop was overflowing with parents and first years trying to find the right one. It seemed like a lifetime ago that we had first arrived in England. The Ministry had granted my parents a bonus to help with the move and it was enough for us to buy a house just outside of London. Dad loved it because it was close to one of the many work entrances and mom was excited for all the shops. It was crazy to think that I wasn't going to see them until Christmas. At Ilvermorny parents would often take kids out for the weekend, and we lived close enough that whenever there was a day off due to holidays I would take a bus or train home. But almost four months? It was going to be different.

We pulled into a parking space and dad went to get a cart; trolley the sign reminded me. There were so many things that had forced me to rewire my brain, especially the vernacular. I got out and pulled on my backpack before pulling out Poppy's cage. Poppy was my gray pygmy owl. Mom had promised me an owl for school, and as soon as I saw her in the shop I knew she was mine. She had silky feathers and a bright yellow beak. Her eyes were wide and had a slight green hue that in the right light almost looked like mine. We loaded my trunks onto the cart and I placed the cage on top. I felt slightly out of place as we walked through King's Cross Station looking painfully American. Does nobody wear backpacks here? Why am I the only one in a hoodie? I pulled my ticket out of pocket and was puzzled when I saw Platform 9 ¾.

"Dad, what does this mean?" I handed him my ticket. "What crazy wizarding door do we have to go through this time?" I asked jokingly. There was something about the Wizarding World and bizarre entrances, so I knew something was up.