SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 14- the journey home

My ringing alarm was a brutal way to wake up. We had stayed up far too late in the Gryffindor common room and now we had to be on the train by 8AM. I was the only one left in my room. It was nice to have some privacy, but it had also allowed me to leave my last few belongings strewn about all four beds. I quickly changed out of my pajamas and stuffed everything it my trunk.

"You almost ready?" Olivia called from the hallway.

"Just about." I strained as I fought my trunk to close.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she opened the door.

"Yeah, come sit on this." I waved her over. She quickly plopped down allowing me to close the final clasp.

"Thanks!" I gasped.

"How do you expect to lug this out to the carriages if you can't even close it." She stood and placed a hand on her hip.

"You're an idiot if you think any of us are going to be able to carry all of our stuff." I flicked my wrist and my trunk and suitcase rose into the air. I smiled smugly as I pulled on my backpack and picked up Poppy's cage. "Let's go."

"Oh, good, I don't have to add yours." Jessica said as we joined her in the common room, her and Olivia's things floating behind her. "They've already sent Ginny down here once, we should get going."

"Everyone has everything? I don't want to get halfway to London before someone realizes they've left something." Jessica and I both nodded as Olivia went first out of the barrel and had the luggage follow her. I paused for a moment to look around the common room. It was just as cozy as my first day, a fire simmering in the hearth and the plants lining the windows. I took one last deep inhale, wanting to carry the scent of honey and herbs with me home. We soon found everyone waiting in front of the Great Hall.

"Where are the twins?" Olivia asked.

"Right here." George called from behind us. "Someone overslept."

"Someone turned off the alarm." Fred mumbled and rubbed his eyes.

"We should go, the train leaves soon." Hermione announced as the last two carriages pulled up. We all loaded our trunks onto the charmed carriages and enjoyed the short ride to the platform. The carriage let us off at the compartments before trotting itself to the baggage car to unload all of our things. I turned and saw the towers of Hogwarts resting high above the tree line of the Forbidden Forest. I still couldn't believe that my first year was over. The castle seemed so hauntingly massive the first time I saw it, but now it almost seemed quaint. Like the kind of place that you know like the back of your hand. The kind of place that wouldn't change no matter how much time had passed. I don't know how I'm going to survive this summer.

"Great view, huh?" Fred bumped my shoulder with the back of his hand as he passed me, boarding the train with the others. I smiled.

"Almost wish I had a camera."

- - -

"Melanie!" I heard my mom call in between train whistles.

"Mom, Dad!" I yelled as I ran up to them, dropping my backpack as they pulled me into a hug.

"We've missed you so much!" My dad mumbled into my shoulder. "You'll have to tell us all about it on the way home."

"I doubt the car ride will be long enough." I pulled away and grabbed my bag off the ground. Most of my friends had joined me with their trolleys. "Oh, thanks for grabbing mine." I said to Jess as she approached trying to maneuver both carts.

"No problem." She sighed, out of breath. "These the famous parents?"

"Yeah, this is my dad David and my mom Lisa. This is Jessica, she's the captain of my house quidditch team."