chosen - harry potter

Chapter 3 - On the Train

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

"WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE?"

Cassia's eyes flung open, her hands flying to her face to rub her eyes. Molly's voice rang through the rooms, making her groan and stand to get dressed. She hadn't slept well. In fact, she hadn't slept well for most of the summer. She felt like there was something she was forgetting, or maybe something she couldn't seem to get out of her head. Regardless, there was something stagnant sitting in the back of her mind that she couldn't seem to get rid of.

"MUDBLOODS! SCUM! CREATURES OF DIRT!"

The portrait of Mrs. Black was screaming down the hallway.

"Bloody hell," Cassia whispered, pulling a shirt over her head and leaving her room. Molly, Harry, and Sirius stood near the front door.

"Alastor's going to deal with the luggage," Molly said hurriedly. "Come on, then."

She pulled the door open, and Cassia hesitated. "Where's everyone else?"

"Well, that's quite what happens when you sleep so late. You don't know what's happening!" Molly snapped. "The two of you need guard, so we're walking with you to the station."

"Right, then, sorry," Cassia muttered, looking at Harry confusedly. He shrugged his shoulders, giving her a weak smile.

The four walked through the front door and down the stone steps, seeing a woman with tightly curled gray hair, who Cassia recognized as Tonks, standing near the corner. As they approached, she smiled at them. Cassia realized how young she looked, even with gray hair.

"'Morning!" she beamed. "Better hurry up, hadn't we?"

They walked toward the station, and Cassia found herself walking next to Tonks.

"So, Cassia," she said, looking down at her, "I love your hair."

"Thank you," Cassia smiled, taking the end of one of her curls between her fingers. "I love yours too."

"Thanks, I thought of it this morning," Tonks beamed. "You like Hogwarts?"

"Only when my life isn't at risk."

"So...no?"

"I guess not," Cassia chuckled. "Did you like Hogwarts?"

"Oh yeah, but I just missed all of the dangerous stuff. I finished in 1991."

"Wait...seriously? You were in seventh year the year before I started?"

"Yeah," she smiled at her. "I'm only twenty-three, you know."

"Cool," Cassia nodded. Tonks snorted.

"I knew the hair would make me look older," she feigned disappointment.

"No! Just...most of the people I've been around are either Hogwarts age or parent age and nothing in between, and I guess I've never thought about it."

"The training for careers post-Hoggy is a bit strenuous, so most people disappear for a bit until they get back on their feet."

Cassia nodded along, realizing she hadn't even considered what she was going to do after Hogwarts. After all of the near-death experiences she had, she sort of figured she wouldn't make it that far. 

It took nearly twenty minutes to reach King's Cross where they met up with the others. Arthur walked with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, and Moody walked with Fred, George, and Will.

"No trouble?" Moody growled as he approached.

"Nothing," Sirius said.

Mr. and Mrs. Bright bustled toward them, looking worried. They pulled Cassia and Will to the side, Mrs. Bright smoothing her daughter's hair down matronly.