You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 8

 The steam from the Hogwarts Express rose in thick, white clouds, blurring the figures of parents waving goodbye on the platform. Inside the train, the atmosphere was a chaotic mix of reunion hugs and trunk-dragging. Mira followed James and Lily through the narrow corridors, her trunk already tucked away by one of the older boys.

As Head Boy and Head Girl, James and Lily were already wearing their shiny badges, looking more official than Mira had ever seen them. They had to head off to the prefects' carriage almost immediately to discuss patrol schedules and rules. James gave Mira a quick, almost distracted nod before they disappeared, leaving her with the rest of the group.

Once they had found an empty compartment and settled in, Mira felt the weight of the morning's excitement catching up with her. "I'm going to find the bathroom" she said, standing up.

"I'll come with you" Marlene offered, already halfway out of her seat. "The train is a maze when it's this crowded"

"No, it's fine, really" Mira insisted with a small smile. "I want to explore a bit on my way back. I won't get lost"

Marlene shrugged and sat back down, and Mira stepped out into the hallway. The walk was actually quite nice. She peered into various compartments, seeing students of all ages laughing, changing into robes, or trading chocolate frog cards. It felt like a world she was finally allowed to touch rather than just observe from the outside.

After she finished in the bathroom, however, her path back was blocked. A group of five or six older students had gathered in the middle of the corridor, leaning against the walls and talking loudly. They looked older, perhaps her own age, and they carried an air of confidence that made Mira feel very small. She stood there for a moment, hoping they would move, but they were too deep in conversation.

"Excuse me" she said, her voice coming out much quieter than she intended.

The effect was instantaneous. Every head snapped toward her. The laughter stopped, replaced by a heavy, appraising silence that made Mira's heart hammer against her ribs. She felt like a bug under a microscope. She really should have just waited behind the door until they moved.

"Do I know you?" one of the boys asked. He was tall with sharp features and a look of boredom that didn't quite hide the coldness in his eyes.

"Actually, no. I'm new" she replied. She tried to keep her voice steady, pursing her lips to keep them from trembling.

"New? Well, that's... something, isn't it?" the boy said. His tone wasn't friendly at all. It was layered with a thin veil of mockery, as if the very idea of a new student was a joke he was letting her in on.

"Be nice, Nott. The poor girl looks terrified" another boy said, though he didn't look much kinder. He was leaning against the window, watching her with a smirk.

Nott. Mira recognized the name, Remus had even told her stories . It was a name associated with old money and even older prejudices.

"What's your name?" the second boy asked.

"Mira"

"Mira what?"

"Mira Potter"

The silence that followed was even heavier than the first. For a few seconds, nobody moved. Then, Nott let out a short, sharp laugh, which seemed to act as a signal for the others to join in. It wasn't a happy sound; it was the kind of laugh people used when they found something pathetic.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, you guys are vulgar. Leave the poor girl alone" a girl's voice broke through the mocking laughter.

A girl with messy blonde hair and wide, dreamy eyes pushed through the group, making her way toward Mira. She looked different from the others—less sharp, more like she was seeing something the rest of them couldn't.