Loneliness in Difference

Chapter 18: New Enemies and Old Friends?

The train whistled signalling its arrival at Hogwarts. The students gathered around the platform ready to leave Hogwarts for the summer. Adelaide scanned the crowd for her brothers to make sure they weren't around before turning to her friends.

"See you guys next year?" She asked hopefully. They hadn't talked very much lately because of exams and now that Dax was back it was becoming harder to hang out with them without raising much suspicion. She wasn't expecting them to want to stick out another year of hiding inside the nearest classroom to dodge her brother.

"Is that even a question?" Luke said. "I'm still going to need help in transfiguration, defense against the dark arts, charms, and I could go on. I am going to need you, YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!"

"No kidding since you barely scraped by this year and next year is going to be harder," Cecillia said. "If you don't get at least one perfect score on an exam next year that's not Astronomy we're not going to be having a party."

"No fair!" Luke whined. After exams, they had had reasons to celebrate and one reason to breath easily. So Cecillia had gone to the kitchens and asked for a cake. The house elves complied and she brought back a white cake with chocolate frosting and blue letters that read: Congratulations! "That cake was really good!"

"Then get better grades next year," Cecillia said. Luke bottom lip jutted out and he began to pout. "It's for your own good!"

Adelaide glanced over her shoulder and spotted Nitesh standing in the crowd to tell her Dax was coming. "I've got to go." She said.

"See yah next year then," Luke winked at her. She ran towards Nitesh and Cecillia and Luke's arguing faded into the background.

She started to slow down as she came to a stop next to Nitesh. He nodded at her and she followed him away from her friends. She saw Dax and he nodded at her.

The train blew its whistle again and the students began to board the train one by one. The three Fions climbed onto the train and went down the corridors until they found a compartment to stay in. Adelaide sat on one of seats and Dax and Nitesh sat down across from her. The train started to move and Adelaide stared out of the window as Hogwarts disappeared into the distance. Another year had come and gone and she still had no clue how she was supposed to convince wizards and witches that Slytherins weren't all bad.

Before finals, Luke and she had discussed everything Adelaide was working on with Cecillia and Jakob. Cecillia said that she needed to find other Slytherins who shared the same ideals. Her, Luke, and Jakob would find other people who also shared those ideals from the other houses.

"Excuse me, is there-" A Slytherin girl slid open the door a stopped mid-sentence. "I- sorry I didn't realize the Fions family was in here. Please forgive me." She bowed. The three Fions stared at her blankly. "I'll just go."

"Wait," Nitesh said. She stopped shutting the door. "Do you need a compartment to stay in? The train can get really full." He glanced at Adelaide and she shrugged before turning back to the window. "You can stay with us if you need to."

"Um," She stammered. She glanced at Dax and he motioned to the seat next to Adelaide. She walked into the compartment, shut the door, and after she put her trunk on the shelf above them and sat down.

After several minutes of awkward silence, Dax spoke. "Are you a pureblood or half-blood?"

"Dax!" Nitesh said.

"It was simple curiosity," Dax said.

"What does it matter?"

"If mom figures out we were around anyone but a pureblood she might get pissed."