The Next Best Thing

1| Hoggy, Woggy, Hogwarts

"I am not the best at making friends. I'm so glad you guys let me sit with you."

Juliet's POV

I squeezed my mother's hand as we quickly ran on to the platform.

"Alright, Juliet. Be strong for Mummy, alright, dear?" She smiles nervously at me.

I frowned a little but nodded. She knew I was worried about making friends. I wasn't the best at talking to people. I was a little shy.

My mother helped me step up on to the train. I turned around and wrapped my arms around my sweet mother's neck. She laughed gently and kissed my forehead.

"Go on, dear. Send Oracles with a note as often as you can, and I'll write back. I love you, baby." My mother pulled away as I walked up and down the halls, my heart beating fast.

I stopped outside of a compartment that was partly open, voices speaking excitedly inside. I knocked on the door and froze as three heads turned my way.

"Yes, may we help you?" One of the boys asked kindly. The boy had jet black hair that looked really tangled, and he was wearing glasses. The one thing that threw me off guard was the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

I jolted to the side a bit as the train moved forward. My heart quickened as I remembered my mother and ran to the window of the compartment, smiling as I saw my mother's smiling face. I waved, a big grin on my face, watching as she waved back.

When she disappeared from view, I turned slowly and gulped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I was just looking for a place to sit." I looked down at my feet.

The other boy, a red head with lots of freckles, smiled. "Well, bloody hell, why didn't you just say so? Have a seat. This girl," he motioned to a girl with bushy brown hair sitting across from him, "was just looking for a toad. Have you seen one?"

I sat down next to the girl. "No, I have not seen a toad. And thank you for letting me sit with you."

The girl started to speak, but the boy with red hair cut her off. "No problem. I'm Ronald Weasley. This is Harry Potter." He pointed to the black-haired boy.

My eyes widened. "That's how I recognize you!" The boy who lived...he was sitting right in front of me.

He blushed. "Yeah. I'm sure you already saw the scar."

I nodded. "Yes." I turned to the girl. "And you?"

She smiled at me. "Hermione Jean Granger. Pleasure to meet you..." she shook my hand, waiting for me to introduce myself.

I smiled and glanced around at the three. "My name is Juliet Lillian Kennedy."

Hermione nodded. "Nice to meet you Juliet."

A young boy opened the door and waved Hermione out. "Hermione, someone found Trevor! Come on!"

She stood with a sigh. "That's my cue. You all better change. We are almost to Hogwarts."

As soon as she left, both boys stood. "We are going to go change into our robes. I see you already have yours on, so we were hoping..."