After Harry

Chapter Three: Finally home

It was nearly dark when the train finally arrived. The group of teens scrambled around the carriage, picking up sweet wrappers and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans that littered the floor.

"Bet you wish you hadn't thrown them at me now, don't you." James huffed at Scorpius, referring to the twenty minutes in which Scorpius found it hilarious to throw one of the beans at his friend just when the dark-haired boy was about to fall asleep. Cassia rolled her eyes at their immaturity.

This last-minute cleaning frenzy had become a sort of yearly ritual. Ever since James had 'accidentally' blown up the carriage's table, the group had been forbidden to ride in any other compartment for the teacher's fears that they would 'badly influence other students', hence the reason Cassia was stuck with them and not in some far distant, quiet carriage, where her book would not be stolen every three minutes and she did not have to constantly worry about dodging flying sweets. It was not until after the whole bubble gum fiasco, however, that they were not permitted to leave the train until a member of staff had come to collect them, ensuring that they left the carriage in a 'suitable state' (and also that the kids were not, in fact, stuck in a carriage full of giant, sticky bubbles. Again)

"Shut up," The blonde retaliated, "It's your fault we have to do this every year." This earned him a slap from James. One he quickly returned, only harder.

Cassia closed her eyes in disbelief, letting out a sigh as she took in the scene before him. They are actual children. Phoenix and Ander came to stand beside her and the three of them watched the two teens jump on one another, again. Just as Scorpius managed to get a firm hold around James' neck, holding the shorter boy beneath him, the carriage door slid open, revealing, none other, than the headmistress of Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry/ Professor McGonagall.

Within a millisecond, James and Scorpius were off the floor and all five children were stood in a neat row in the middle of the carriage.

"Malfoy," She sighed, "Potter." Scorpius and James' eyes widened in fear. "How many times do i have to tell you. No fighting." The boys looked at one another, then back at their head mistress.

"Sorry Miss, won't happen again." James said, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.

"It better not." The older lady responded. She proceeded to inspect the carriage, sighing when she found that it was satisfactory.

"You may go." She said it as though it hurt her; letting the kids back into Hogwarts. It probably did, Cassia thought

The group hastily grabbed their bags and exited the train.

*****

Cassia stepped onto the platform, taking a deep breath. The night air was cool on her skin, and she welcomed the feeling after nine hours stuck in a stuffy train.

The boys were gone in the blink of an eye, James jumping on Scorpius' back and Phoenix with his hand on Anders' shoulder, undoubtedly trying to reassure him. As usual, leaving Cassia on her own. She scoffed to herself, looping her arm through the loose strap of her rucksack and setting off towards the large group of students.

"Hey, Cass!" She heard from behind her. "Wait up." after swiveling around, Cassia was greeted, once again, by the sight of a lilac hair. Eda jogged to catch up with brunette, slinging an arm around the dark haired girl's shoulder when she did.

"My name is Cassia." Cassia sighed, looking at the girl.

"I know." Eda laughed, shaking her head. "It's a nickname, silly." Cassia just raised her eyebrows."You know, like my name is Andromeda, but my friends call me Eda."

"Right." So they were friends then.

Cassia could only imagine how stupid the two of them looked walking side-by-side. With her sensible hair and plain, neat appearance next to Eda's wild, pastel hair and rebellious uniform. She had her jumper sleeves rolled up the the elbow, with her white shirt folded over the top of it. Dozens of silver bangles hung on her wrists and at least five rings adorned each hand. Her top buttons were open and a green tie hung loosely around her neck.

Yeah. Cassia couldn't see this friendship lasting long.

Finally they arrived at the back of the large group of students, Eda still had her arm slung over Cassia's shoulder and the dark haired girl was trying her utmost not to shrug it off.

"Come on." Eda said, finally removing her arm from Cassia's shoulder, causing the shorter girl to let out an involuntary sigh of relief, and grabbing her hand. "I'll introduce you to the gang." The lilac haired girl led her new friend towards a group of teens standing to the left of the crown of students.

Once the pair arrived, Eda released the hand she had grabbed to pull Cassia over with and promptly slung her arms around a short ginger girl's neck. The girl hugged her back, letting out an excited squeal as she did so. Next in line was a taller, male version of the ginger girl. He wrapped his arms around Eda's waist, lifting her off the floor while they both chuckled. Then was another boy. Cassia recognised him, something about the way he was standing, like the world belonged to him, and his kind eyes seemed oddly familiar to her. Eda ruffled his hair and he laughed at her.

"Cass." Eda returned to Cassia's side. "This is the gang. Ruby." She said, pointing to the ginger girl, then her brother. "Leo and Fillan" She finished with the boy.

The group made quite a mix, with the bright orange hair of the twins, Eda's pastel purple locks and the blonde/blue mix of the boy Cassia now knew was named Fillan. They all wore uniforms similar to Eda's, joined with hoop earrings, nose studs and painted nails, which Cassia noticed were not subjected to just the girls.

The dark haired girl smiled at them, doing her best to make it seem sincere, though undoubtedly failing. She did not belong here.

Cassia let out an audible sigh of relief when she heard the carriages pull up, instantly moving away from the group and towards the crowd of students. She pulled herself up and into the first carriage that came her way, sliding along the seat to the right side, allowing three other students to climb up with her. Cassia didn't know them, and was grateful that they ignored her, chatting amongst themselves.

Cassia loved this part of the annual journey to Hogwarts. Sure, the boats at the start of first year were cool, but there was no suspense. The view was stunning, no doubt about that, but something about the slow emergence of the towers and then the building gradually coming into view, that only came with riding the carriages, made Cassia's heart beat that little bit faster.

She had waited for this moment all summer. The moment she could finally see the faint yellow lights of Hogwart's many windows, fighting to get through the leaves of the forest.

And soon, she did. The golden flecks would have been unnoticeable to anyone who wasn't looking, but to Cassia, they were clear as day. She could almost feel the warmth they held- it felt good. Familiar. She had missed this feeling, and the peace that came with it. Every student that has ever attended Hogwarts, will, at some point have claimed it to be their home, and Cassia was no exception. And yet, it was different for her-stronger. Hogwarts was the only place in the world that made Cassia feel at peace, the only place where she could be completely herself.

The towers rose above the trees, their roofs piecing the sky. Cassia was finally home.