The Wicked Walk On Every Side

Chapter 2

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

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If there was one person on this Earth that hated crowded spaces more than he did, Wolfbane would love to meet them. He hated the feeling of people breathing down his neck, and he just couldn't bring himself to think about how many germs and pathogens were floating around in the air right now. He clutched Atropa's hand tightly to ensure that he didn't get lost in this endless sea of people.

By the time the Shadow family reached Platform 9 ¾, Wolfbane was about ready to start throwing elbows. Atropa noticed how tense her twin was and began to calm him once again by taking two of her fingers and rubbing them in a circular motion around his palm. Like earlier that morning, he almost instantly calmed down.

"Alright! Off you get!" Said Wolfbane's father, pointing to the barrier with a huge smile on his face.

Belladonna, being the big sister that she is, went first. She clutched her hands around the handle of her trolley and began to run at the brick wall. Her pet rabbit, WitchHazel, made a small noise of surprise when it saw that they were running at a, supposedly, solid brick wall. Wolfbane was a little shocked at this, seeing as Belladonna had had that rabbit for as long as he could remember, and she always took it to Hogwarts with her, so the rabbit should be used to it now. Apparently not.

Belladonna slipped through the barrier and his mother motioned for Atropa to go next. Atropa ran up to their mother, her brown hair flowing like a banner behind her, and gave her a hug that could have easily been compared to getting a hug from a bear. While Atropa was hugging their mother, Wolfbane noticed a small spot of green on the sweater she was wearing. He gave an amused huff as he instantly recognised it as Pike, Atropa's pet Bowtruckle.

Wolfbane rolled his eyes and started for the barrier before his sister could notice. He would have Peppermint (who was sitting in her ornate cage on top of his trunk on the trolley) deliver a letter to his mum and dad while he was on the train.

Everything was like a competition between the three siblings. Every morning it was a race to see who could get ready first, who could finish their breakfast first (Atropa or Belladonna always won that one), and who could get out the door first. Of course, this was during the summer. Now that they were going back to school, it would be who could get to class first, who could get the most points for their house, and obviously, who won the Quidditch Cup. It was a little unfair, seeing as Belladonna was Head Girl and a Prefect for Slytherin, but this just made the twins try harder. Last year, Ravenclaw won the Quidditch Cup, and Wolfbane obviously got big points for that, considering he had beat Hufflepuff during the last game. Atropa had been so mad at him. Wolfbane walked over to Belladonna, who was talking to her friend Abbey Vencie.

"Hallo!" Abbey said to Wolfbane as he approached the two girls. She turned to Belladonna and said, "Isn't he just too cute! Look at those gorgeous eyes!" Then, in a whisper, she added, "Is he single?"

Belladonna looked as equally surprised as Wolfbane did at the question. Wolfbane's face flushed so much that you could see it over his mocha complexion. He gave his big sister a look that said, "Gryffindor. Help."

Belladonna was about to say something to save her poor brother from anymore embarrassment, when Atropa walked over to them slung her arm around Wolfbane's shoulders and with a huge smirk, said, "Yes, he is. This stud muffin stand is open for business. But not for you. You don't exactly have the right..." She paused, looking at Abbey suggestively. "Equipment. If you know what I mean."