Trouble (The Marauders Era» Sirius Black Fanfiction) *Editing*

1» A Fresh Start

Chapter One

A Fresh Start

<There's no place like home>

<<<>>>

The lull of the Hogwarts Express coasting through the Scotland countryside helped sooth Thea's anxious thoughts as she sat quietly by herself, bouncing her leg nervously. The cold glass felt good against her aching head as she wondered how long she'd been on the train. An hour? Maybe two? It felt like she had been traveling all day. She internally groaned at the sound of the compartment door sliding open. Ugh, people.

Thea looked up to see a man with a big, round belly and thinning strawberry blond hair squeezing his way into the cabin. He wore a tweed jacket and a striped green bow tie. The buttons of his vest strained against the force of his rotund waist so much Thea worried one might pop off and take her eye out. He carried with him a brown leather briefcase with patches on the edges, and in the other hand something wrapped in brown paper.

     "Hello," he said with a smile. "I hope you don't mind. In my search for the candy trolley, I passed by your door and thought you looked rather lonely. Would you like some company?"

     Thea didn't want to be rude, especially since she had a good guess that this was a Hogwarts professor sitting across from her. No other students were on the train except for her; it would be a few more days before everyone else made their journey  to Hogwarts for the start of the school year.

     "Sure," she said. He sat down across from her, tucked his briefcase under his seat and began opening the brown paper, revealing six cold and slightly petrified-looking cooked sausages. He wiggled his fingers excitedly as he picked one up and devoured almost the whole thing in one bite.

     "Hungry?" He asked as he finished chewing. Thea shook her head. "Quite alright. Perhaps the trolly will come by and we can get you some sweets. You must be the American student Professor Dumbledore mentioned in his letter, yes?" He leaned forward and extended his hand. "Professor Horace Slughorn. I teach potions at Hogwarts and am head of House Slytherin."

     She shook his hand with a forced smile. He was kind and Thea appreciated him trying to make her feel welcome, but she wasn't in the mood to socialize with a teacher.

     "Thea Bonneville," she said, trying to discreetly wipe the sausage grease on her hand onto the seat beside her.

"Pleasure to meet you," he said with a grin. "Tell me a bit about yourself, my dear."

"Er, I can't think of much to say, professor. My life has changed a lot lately." Thea's voiced drifted off, hoping she wouldn't have to elaborate.

"Oh, of course, I'm sorry," he said, much less joyful than before. "Yes, I understand you've been through a lot this past year. I'm very sorry."

She gave a small nod and a tight smile. She quietly rested her head back against the cold window and stared at the trees zooming past. Maybe he'd go back to eating his sausages and let her sit in silence.

"I've never been to the United States," said Professor Slughorn. Thea peeled herself away from the window and tried to hold back a frustrated sigh. "However I must say I have traveled quite a lot in my lifetime, but never to America. Do you think I should someday?"

Thea shrugged. "Depends on where go. Most cities are dirty and the people aren't very nice, but I went to Niagara Falls when I was seven and that was cool."

     "Hmm," he said. "I don't like crowds anyway. I once transfigured myself into tree to avoid talking to my nosy neighbor. It worked alright, but then someone came along with their dog, and, well..."