Always - Welcome to the Wizarding World

Part 34

Unfortunately, the rest of the train journey sat with Draco flew by quickly. I felt the train screech to a sudden halt and I peered outside the window. Through the smoke of the train's chimney and the pouring rain, I saw platform 9 ¾. We had arrived in London. Draco stood up, following Blaise out of the compartment. 

"I'll meet you on the platform, okay?" he said before he left. I nodded in agreement, beginning to organize myself. Zarah watched my as I began to collect my belongings, shooting me a very suspicious look.

"What?" I asked her coyly. She shook her head, snickering at me.

"Nothing" she replied, stuffing her array of sweet wrappers into her rucksack. "Where did you two hurry off to earlier?" she implored. I retrieved my own rucksack from the overhead compartment and slung it over my shoulder, trying not to make eye contact with her. I thought perhaps she hadn't noticed.

"What are you on about?" 

"You know, on the train. Don't play innocent with me, Radia Snape! Went for a private snogging session with Malfoy, did we?" she teased, elbowing me jokingly. I smiled bashfully, shoving her into the doorway weakly as we hopped off the train.

"Maybe" I admitted. Zarah smiled at me in that wise manner again, cleared her throat and peered casually around the platform.

"Well, I have to say, I could see that coming miles off. He is rather persuasive". That seemed an odd reaction, to infer that he'd badgered me to go out with him. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

Before Zarah could answer me, a stout bubbly woman with a curly explosion of white hair on her head, squashed underneath an enormous green hat, came rushing over to us, taking Zarah in her arms.

"Ohh, lovey! My beautiful girl! We've missed you so much this year, haven't we, Kian?" This woman, presumably Zarah's mother, had an incredibly thick Welsh accent, much less comprehensible than Zarah's. A tall, silver haired boy with blue cat-like eyes stalked over to us, a rather stark contrast from this small woman engulfing Zarah in hugs. He was smiling proudly at Zarah and put his hand lovingly on her shoulder.

"I'm so proud of you, Zar" he said sweetly, pulling her into a hug. Once he let her go, he turned to me, scanning me up and down. Zarah looked at me and chuckled, almost having forgotten I was there from the excitement of seeing her family again.

"Oh, sorry, Ray! Mam, Kian, this is Radia Snape. Ray, this is my mam, Mary, and my brother, Kian" she introduced us. Kian merely smiled at me, but Mrs Foxface shook my hand ferociously.

"Oh, Radia, darling, yes. Zar has told us all about you in her letters. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, Cedric. Zar told us that he meant a great deal to you" she said, patting my arm sensitively.

"That's quite alright, Mrs Foxface. He did mean a lot to me, yes, thank you for your kindness". She smiled at me sympathetically.

"Terrible, that is. Losing a boy so young and so talented, I'm told. No parent should have to suffer through burying their child" she said solemnly, taking Zarah and Kian's hands in hers, as though she could protect them from death by her simple motherly touch. "Darling, I just want you to know that you're always welcome at our house, anytime you need a break from it all".

"Thank you, Mrs Foxface. That's very kind of you". Mrs Foxface released her children's hands and picked up Zarah's suitcase.

"You're very welcome" she said "And, Radia? Call me Mary".