Between Two Worlds: The Weasley Intervention

Chapter 2 : Welcome to Hogwarts

The Hogwarts Express gleamed scarlet against the billowing steam on Platform 9¾, just as magical and awe-inspiring as Navier had always imagined. She stood on the platform, trunk at her feet and a cage containing a handsome tawny owl perched atop it. The owl – which she'd named Hemingway in a nod to her literary background – hooted softly, seemingly as excited as she was.

Navier's heart raced as she scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces. She'd spent the last month holed up in the Leaky Cauldron, poring over her textbooks and trying to piece together exactly when in the Harry Potter timeline she'd landed. Based on overheard conversations and subtle questions to Tom the barman, she'd deduced that this was the year before Harry Potter would start at Hogwarts.

That meant Fred and George Weasley would be starting their third year. The thought made her pulse quicken.

As if summoned by her thoughts, a flash of red hair caught her eye. Navier's breath caught in her throat as she spotted a group of redheads making their way through the crowd – the Weasleys.

There was plump, kind-faced Mrs. Weasley, ushering along a young Ron and Ginny. Behind them came Percy, looking pompous even at his young age. And then...

Navier's heart skipped a beat as she saw them: Fred and George, identical grins on their freckled faces as they pushed their trolleys, clearly planning some sort of mischief.

She must have been staring, because suddenly, one of the twins – Fred, she was almost certain – caught her eye and winked. Navier felt her face flush as she quickly looked away, pretending to be very interested in adjusting Hemingway's cage.

"Need a hand with that?" a cheerful voice asked. Navier looked up to see both twins standing before her, identical smiles on their faces.

"I'm Fred," said the one on the left.

"And I'm George," said the other.

Navier's mind reeled. She knew from the books that they often lied about which twin was which, but being face to face with them, she found she couldn't tell the difference at all.

"I'm Navier," she managed to say, her voice steadier than she felt. "Navier Grace. And yes, some help would be lovely, thank you."

The twins helped her load her trunk onto the train, chatting animatedly about Hogwarts and asking if she was a first-year. Navier nodded, trying to act as though this was all new to her while simultaneously drinking in every detail of the boys she'd read about for so long.

As they settled into a compartment, joined shortly by their friend Lee Jordan, Navier found herself swept up in their infectious energy. They spent the journey swapping stories and jokes, with the twins and Lee regaling her with tales of their adventures at Hogwarts.

Navier laughed at their antics, all the while acutely aware of the bittersweet nature of the moment. Here was Fred, alive and full of life, unaware of the fate that awaited him in a future she was determined to change.

As the train neared Hogsmeade station, Navier excused herself to change into her robes. Standing in the tiny bathroom, she took a deep breath, staring at her reflection in the small mirror.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself. "You're here for a reason. You can save them."

The boat ride across the lake was every bit as magical as she'd imagined. Hogwarts castle loomed above them, windows sparkling in the night sky. Navier sat in a boat with three other first-years, but she barely registered their nervous chatter, too entranced by the sight before her.

As they were led into the castle by a stern-looking Professor McGonagall, Navier's mind raced. She knew what was coming – the Sorting Hat, the four houses, the great feast. But knowing and experiencing were two very different things.