Riddle Me This

Chapter One: All Aboard

Another train roared through the tunnel, carrying with it a blast of stale air. Overhead, the lights flickered as the train exited the tunnel without stopping. The concrete floor of the station vibrated with the power of the machine. A warbling voice came over the intercom, voice almost unintelligible over the noise and static. Only a few words could be made out: "August 31st... 11:30pm... train... London..."

It was the year 1991. On a hard, wooden bench beside the sign for Platform 10, a girl sat trembling. Her eyes swept through the darkness. Everything was still and quiet, but she was very scared. Tomorrow would be a new day, a new beginning. If only she could make it through the night.

A set of footsteps echoed through the station from far to the left. The girl froze, her fists curling white-knuckled around a thin piece of wood. The footsteps steadily approached, and the girl's hands started to shake so badly that she couldn't aim the wand if she wanted to. Deciding it was useless, the young girl slipped it back up her left sleeve and pulled the hood of her cloak lower around her face. In her chest, her heart fluttered like a bird.

Finally, a man, briefcase in hand, came into view. He didn't even glance her way. The girl let out a long, warbling sigh of relief and collapsed back against the bench. The man power-walked on, checking his watch anxiously. It was amazing that he'd been only the second person to come through King's Cross Station that night. The whole place was still and desolate. If it weren't for the occasional train, the girl would've thought the station was out of order.

And if the station was out of order then she would've been completely and royally done for. Because there was only one place left for her now: Hogwarts. There was no place for her to go back to, not after what she'd done. Not after who she was. She wasn't even sure that Hogwarts wanted her. The letter was probably a mistake, automated to be sent to every kid with wizarding potential.

But it was too late now. Mistake or no, she had gotten the letter and was going. She had already stolen the wand, the books, and the money for everything else on the list. She unzipped the edge of her suitcase and peeked in at the neat rows of cloaks. The one name tag she had been able to purchase glinted in the dim lights, "Althea" carved into its surface. Althea ran her finger over its surface and couldn't tell if she wanted to cry or smile.

She sat there for a minute, pressing the heels of her hands into her closed eyes so hard that light danced. Then she opened her eyes, zipped the suitcase up, and pulled it onto the bench to be used as a pillow. Beneath the bench, the small black cat was sleeping in its carrier. A second small bag held her remaining school supplies, tucked neatly against the bench's leg. This was all the girl had left in the world. This, and a smidgen of hope, tucked deep into the depths of her soul.

The girl looked up at the ceiling one more time, imagining she could see the stars. Then she closed her eyes and slept.

She did not dream.

oOoOoOo

The first thing that Neville Longbottom noticed was the girl sleeping on the bench. She was his age, probably eleven or so, and was curled up in what looked to be an extremely painful position. Her right arm was twisted under her, and her foot was jammed between the armrest of the bench and the back of it. Shoulder-length dark brown hair stuck up in strange angles all around her face. Her clothes were equally out of sorts: a very rumpled cloak covered a plain gray shirt and a pair of worn pants. Underneath the bench, a cat peeked out at him from a carrier and the edge of a cauldron poked out from the corner of a very lumpy bag.

The girl was clearly going to be a Hogwarts student. At least, Neville thought she was. What else would she be? But it was already half past ten, and the Hogwarts Express left at 11 o'clock promptly. Wasn't someone going to wake her up?

Neville nervously waited a couple minutes. Nothing happened, except his grandmother probably having a coronary on Platform 9 ¾ waiting for him. He was disappointing his parents' memories, most likely. But what would they say if he just left some girl behind?

Before he quite realized it, Neville had arrived at the bench and was shaking the girl awake. "Uh, hello," he said. She flinched so badly that he felt guilty. "You'll miss the train if you keep sleeping." The girl's eyes sprung open and she leapt off the bench, pushing past the bewildered Longbottom boy so quickly that he hadn't even processed what had happened until the girl came slinking back.

She had forgotten all her stuff. Without saying a word or making eye contact, she attempted to gather it up. The small bag abruptly exploded, launching half its contents around the hurrying feet of passersby. Neville leaned down and picked up the cauldron he had seen earlier. There was a large dent in its pewter side.

"There's a dent in it," Neville apologized.

The girl took the cauldron back gingerly and replaced it in its bag. "It was already there," she said quietly.

"Oh," Neville was quite unsure what to say next. "I'm Neville, by the way. Neville Longbottom." He held his hand out. The girl stared at it like it was a wild animal, ready to bite. Then, slowly, she took it, staring at him with wide, dark eyes.

"Althea," she said.

"Do you want to sit together on the train?"

"Sit... together?"

"Yeah. We better hurry though. It's leaving in-- ten minutes!"

Neville hustled off to Platform 9 ¾, the girl trailing behind hesitantly. His grandmother was going to kill him! Behind him, Althea watched as he ran full-tilt at a wall, passing through it like it wasn't even there. Looking around to see if anyone was paying attention, she followed him hastily. Her heart hammered in her chest: she had almost missed her chance, and all because she slept like a rock! What happened to being aware and cautious?

She passed through the barrier, and stood there a moment, dumbfounded. The station was filled with students, fitting in last minute good-byes from their loved ones. From a distance away, Neville watched as she drank in the sights of the station - the happy, smiling people; the long, sleek train; the tingly feeling of magic hanging in the air - like a fish gulps water.

"Neville Longbottom!" His grandmother snapped her fingers. "You look at me this instant! I cannot believe you would put your future on the line like this. Your parents would be so disappointed. Now you get on that train before it leaves without you, because so help me I will not drive you to Hogwarts myself!"

"Yes, Grandma," Neville replied sullenly. He waited until she had turned her back before waving over Althea. She looked like she could use some help. He assumed that she was probably from Muggle parents. It must be awfully confusing, to be introduced to this whole world so quickly. The least he could do was be there for her in this time of need. He wouldn't tell his grandma this, but he felt like that was what his parents would've wanted.

Together, they boarded the train. They slipped in a seat together and waited for the train to launch. Althea had taken out a wand and was wringing it in her hands.

"Don't worry," Neville said, capturing her attention from the window. "I'm nervous too."

One side of Althea's mouth quirked up. "You have no idea," she whispered.

oOoOoOo

The second thing that Neville noticed - and he only noticed this after boarding the train, the station quickly turning into a faraway blur - was that his toad Trevor was missing.