Delusion (A Severus Snape love story/Harry Potter fanfiction)

Chapter One - The Scarlet Chassis

Chapter One

"Hurry up Ronald, or you'll miss the train!" A plump, curly haired witch was bustling her way through the pulsating crowds, propelling forwards her youngest son who was grumbling angrily.

"I won't miss the train Mum! Honestly, will you stop nagging me-" But even as he said this the vibrant scarlet steam train belched a cloud of white vapour that enveloped the entire chassis. Mrs Weasley pushed Ron towards the slowly closing door as the other parents watched with bemusement, hands frozen from waving to their own children.

"-AND BE GOOD!" Was the last thing the red-haired boy heard before the door slid shut behind him and the sounds of the station faded away, to be replaced with the relaxing thumping of the wheels on the tracks.

If it was possible, Ron had grown at least a couple of inches over the summer. His ruffled, garish red hair now flopped over one bright blue eye but his freckles were still omnipresent against his pale skin. He walked slowly through the moving train, occasionally slamming into the wall when it gave a sudden lurch or turn.

He had to stoop to enter the compartment right at the back of the train. The blinds were half shut, giving him just enough of a view into the packed room within. Yet, as always, someone had managed to save him a seat.

"Honestly Ron. I thought you'd never turn up!" A girl joked, rolling her eyes as Ron slumped into the seat beside her, spreading his long legs out and taking up much of the vital room.

"You know what mum's like, giving me a talk about how I have to be good and not get into trouble, but to be honest I think that she gave up trying to force Fred and George to behave so is now piling all the extra mothering onto me."

"Aww, poor Ickle Ronniekins!" The girl cooed, pulling him into a headlock and rubbing his head vigorously with her knuckles. When he had finally broken free, amidst barrels of laughter from his friends, the tips of his ears were glowing bright pink - as was the rest of his face.

"Gerrof Melody. Anyway, why didn't you have to get the speech from Mum?" He scowled at the grinning girl who now laid her legs in his lap, leaning up against Harry who was surveying her with amusement. Hermione seemed non-plussed, sitting beside Harry with her face buried in a particularly moth-eaten text book.

"Because," She put on Mrs Weasley's voice, sending everyone into fits of laughter. "Melody has proven herself to be a girl of considerable sensibility, not like you Ronald Weasley!" She cracked up at the end, tears rolling down her cheeks as everyone grinned at her uncannily good impression of her mother.

"Still, it's not fair! It's her fault I was late!" He crossed his arms in front of his chest and scowled, clearly in a strop with his sister.

"If you don't stop sulking Ron then I'll have to get Ginny to hex you." She raised an eyebrow, startling azure eyes glimmering with mirth as her brother was instantly transformed.

"Ok! Ok! Calm down Melody." She gave him a satisfied smirk and focused her attention on the magazine that lay open in her lap. From his position on the opposite bench, Neville tilted his head in an attempt to read the front.

"The Quibbler?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows whilst Luna perked up at the name of her father's magazine.

"Did you know that my Father-"

"Yes Luna, we all know that your Father is editor of the Quibbler." Melody said in a bored tone, not even looking up from the page but moving a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Alike her brother, her eyes were a delicate oval shape with blue, almost grey irises, but her nose was slimmer and more elegant, as were her bright rosebud lips. They had a similar hair colour, but Melody's was far darker, almost a burgundy colour, whilst Ron's was an unfortunate glowing red.