Death's Favourite Bird

Chapter One: A Feathering Problem

"Nox!", Lily Evans called across the platform nine and three quarters, causing the girl with the long and curly black hair who was just about to enter the train to stop and smile at her friend.

The redhead quickly said goodbye to her parents and her sister Petunia, who merely frowned at her in return, before running to her friend and trapping her in a warm hug.

"I missed you so much!", Lily exclaimed once they parted. They lived pretty far away and, since Nox's family was as conservative as the most of the remaining pureblood fanatics was and Lily was a muggleborn, they haven't been able to keep in touch as much as they wanted.

"I missed you too!", Nox replied and almost automatically asked her, "How was your Summer?", hoping Lily couldn't notice the bags under her eyes and the way her skin was even paler than usual.

"It was okay, I guess", Lily replied and the two continued to chat as they entered the Hogwarts Express. In all honesty, Lily's Summer would've been great if only Petunia would realize Lily was still the same sister she always was and not a 'freak', as she put it.

"Petunia?", Nox questioned, noticing the disappointed look Lily gave when she looked back at the Platform.

"Yeah... She still hates me. You'd think she'll cool off before the fifth year, but I don't think she ever will", she answered with a sad look in her eyes and Nox nodded in understanding. She didn't have a sibling, at least not a real one. Her niece was living with Nox and her parents for as long as Nox could remember though, and her family made her understand almost exactly what Lily felt.

"Honestly, I have no idea how can you stand her. I met her once and had to leave so I don't end up becoming a mass murderer", Nox told her in her atempt to make her feel less miserable as they walked through the train, causing Lily to chuckle behind her.

"I bet your mother would be proud, though", she said and Nox grinned and mockingly let out a joyfull cry.

"Oh, I can already see her clapping and mussing about how her daughter finally came to her senses!", she animately continued as they both laughed again. After a while, they finally found an empty compartment and settled there. It was one of the compartments at the far end of the train.

Despite the rare rides with the train, it all felt comfortably familiar and welcoming. The big window was allowing the light to gently shine through the whole compartment. It made the crimson seats look beautiful and Nox couldn't help but to admire the colour.

"Are you sure he'll show up?", she asked Lily again as she sat down. Severus was never late, especially when he knew Lily was waiting for him. They had been good friends even before Hogwarts and Lily claimed that he never once stood her up. Ironicaly, she told that story to Nox in their fourth year when they all agreed to study together on the last day of their first semester, only for Severus to decide to take a break and go hang out with other Slytherins no more than half an hour into the study session.

"Yes, he told me to save him a seat", Lily replied as she sad across from her.

"I bet he's with those bloody pure blood fanatics again", Nox clenched her fists, those people were no good in her eyes, " he was hanging out with them for the majority of the last school year"

"I know", Lily agreed as she thought of the way Severus acted last year at Hogwarts. "I'm worried about him." He was becoming more distant and secretive during the Summer break, too. "But maybe he really is just running late?", she offered and Nox frowned.

"He's never late", Nox said and, just as Lily was about to say something back, James Potter walked into their compartment, alongside with his best friend, Sirius Black.