Her Single Rose (Remus Lupin)

One-Hundred

The end of the summer came quicker than Aries had hoped, but nonetheless, she was happy to go back to the place she still called home.

With their friends having left the day prior to fetch their owls and books, one would think the house would be more quiet.

One would be wrong.

Euphemia had dishes magically being scrubbed, a broom sweeping around the house, James and Sirius had been running around the house looking for books, razors, spare clothes, and Fleamont himself cramming through leftover paperwork regarding his new line of hair treatments.

All while Aries sat patiently on the couch downstairs with her luggage and owl at the ready.

By the time the boys had made it down the steps, Euphemia had finally found the biggest camera Aries had ever seen.

"Just one picture!" Euphemia called from the stairs waving the rather big camera in her hands, "get closer!".

James whined, "mum, we're going to miss the train."

"Stop your whining and smile." Mia scolded motioning for Sirius to come closer, Aries in between the two boys.

With a quick snap, followed by a rather bright light and a few seconds to wait, Fleamont came from his study.

"Oh bullocks, look at the time." He haphazardly looked around the living room for his wand, only realizing when Mia stood in front of him that she was holding it. He smiled, "the train will be leaving soon, we'll have to apparate."

James groaned causing Aries tilt her head and tease, "not a fan of feeling your insides turn out? I hope you're not squeamish?"

James skin turned a pale green making Sirius chuckle, "it'll be fine, mate."

The three picked up their luggage and took the arms of the Potter parents. Euphemia with Aries and James and Sirius with Fleamont.

The two lifted their wands and in one quick motion, Aries suddenly felt her vision and body flip, curl, tuck, and squeeze into what felt like a never ending black hole of mush.

As quickly as it started, the family landed in the midst of the train 9 3/4. While other families rushed around, first years crying and birds squaking, Aries felt different.

She could only remember in faint memory now, how she felt last she was here.

Her focus was only ever on making sure she looked presentable in the eyes of her mother for their family image.

Now, it was different. Aries could feel the steamy air that the train gave off, hear the anxious and excited students load onto the train, oh and the train.

The ruby red beauty. Not even a speck of dust or dirt. As if it was waxed only seconds ago. Aries knew there was some sort of spell to keep it nice, but a ravishing train, it was.

"It's weird isn't it." Aries didn't look away from the train at her brother's words, "I've been here year after year and yet it always feels like it's the first time I'm seeing it."

Aries nodded, it was true, it really did feel like it was the first time she had ever seen it, all of it. Maybe it was.

She couldn't help but think about Regulus. Had he ever seen the station like this? Looked at the gem of a train in bewilderment, feeling like it would take him into a new world of adventure.

Like maybe for a moment, even for just one second, that everything in the whole world was good and warm.

Aries knew the feeling of relief getting on the train after leaving Walburga and Orion, but was that all he ever knew? Was that all Aries had ever known before today?