Fearless | S.Black

Chapter 1

I wake up at the crack of dawn and dress in a pair of jeans and a button up flannel. The chilly autumn air greets me as I retrieve the newspaper from the steps and close the door behind me. Noise upstairs alerts me that my father is awake and moving around.

I go into the kitchen to prepare us a quick breakfast. I'm setting everything on the table when my father appears in the doorway, his hair molded to his head on one side in a serious case of bed head. He gives a sleepy smile that resembles that of a five year old.

"Eat, I have to be at the train station by eleven and I still have to pack my things." I say. My father dutifully takes his seat at the table and quietly begins eating. Halfway through the meal he pauses, "Are you sure you'll be okay?" he signs with a worried look.

"I'll be fine." I tell him. He gives a weak smile and in the moment I can see his age wearing down on him. We finish eating in silence and I clear the table, "Good luck on your painting. I expect a letter when it's finished." I tell him as he walks over to the doorway.

He ducks his head and walks down the hall to his studio, shutting the door behind him. I walk around the house and make sure everything is in order and that there's enough money for the groceries. I cut off all the lights with a wave of my hand and head upstairs.

Ember is perched in her cage asleep since she just got back from her hunt. I go over to my wardrobe and pull out all the clothes I plan to take with me and pile them on my bed. A wave of my wand has all of my school supplies packed neatly into a medium sized trunk.

I carefully fold my clothes and lay them neatly inside the larger trunk and snap it closed. The smallest trunk gets filled with my toiletries and my personal stationary along with my wax seal kit and my typewriter. I scan my room, checking for anything left out.

Once I've determined that I've got everything I use a shrinking charm so that everything fits in my messenger bag. I gently wake Ember, instructing her to fly to the school before shrinking her cage and fitting it in my bag. I cut off the lights and exit my room.

On the walk outside I stop in front of my father's studio and crack the door open. Classical music plays faintly from brass instrument replicas on the wall as my father sits in front of a partially painted canvas. I walk over and kiss his cheek, he gives me a smile and turns back.

"I'll see you at Christmas." I say at the door. My father throws up his hand as I close the door behind me. I walk to the fireplace and with a final goodbye glance disappear in a roar of emerald green flames. A rushing sound fills me ears as I'm deposited onto the floor.

I cough as I stand to my feet, brushing the door from my clothes. I look up and stare in awe at the bright red steam engine on the tracks. The platform is packed with witches and wizards alike, all in a hurry as the clock ticks down for the train to leave for Hogwarts.

I walk briskly, weaving my way between crowds as I make my way towards the train. I pull my trunks from my bag and deposit them onto a pile of luggage waiting to be loaded onto the train, bringing them back to their normal size before walking off.

I'm just about to enter the train when someone runs into me, causing us both to fall to the ground. I yelp in surprise as I wake for impact, instead the surface I make contact with is not the floor. "Shit!" the other person curses in an oddly familiar voice.

"Black." I say coldly. The body beneath me tenses, "Anderson." he replies just as cold. We stand and I cross my arms over my chest, a silent glaring contest ensues. Three more familiar figures appear a few moments later, breaking the tension between us.

James glances between us before throwing his hands up and back away. "Nope, I'm not getting into this." he says. Peter squeaks and joins James while Remus just stands there. "Come on, I don't have all day." he says. My shoulders slump forward and Sirius smirks victoriously.

"Remus." I say formally. Remus nods, though his eyes glint with amusement. "Zara." he says equally formal. I conjure a fedora and it appears on my head and tip it, "Goodbye then. Potter, Peter." I acknowledge. I slip onto the train as James watches me openmouthed.

I can't hide the smirk on my lips as I make my way down the aisle. I'm tackled to the ground a few seconds later by a head of frizzy brown curls. "Mel." I greet. Mel smiles as she helps me up, blowing a few curls out of her eyes. "I haven't heard from you all summer." she says.

I sigh, "Things have been busy, I barely got a chance to sleep." I say. Mel nods in understanding, she knows about my father's condition and the fact that he'd forget to eat if I didn't make him. "Have you seen Xavier or Katie yet?" I ask nonchalantly.

It's no secret that Xavier and Mel are a couple, they're practically always snogging. "Yeah, they waited in a compartment while I went to look for you." Mel says. "Lead the way then." I say dramatically. Mel snorts, "With you and Markus I don't what to do." she says.

Markus is her younger brother, he's a third year this year. We arrive at the compartment and I see Katie and Xavier sitting inside. Katie sits with her legs crossed and a book open in her lap, a lollipop stick hanging from the edge of her mouth as she reads.

Xavier has his head leaned back against the seat with his eyes closed. Markus is nowhere to be seen, probably with his own friends. Mel slides the compartment door open and it hits the wall with a loud bang. Xavier jumps, hitting his head on the rack above the seat.

Katie doesn't move an inch, flipping the page of her book without an upward glance. "Merlin Mel! Bout gave me a heart attack!" Xavier exclaims. I snort and take the seat beside Katie, "Watcha readin?" I ask. Katie offers me a strawberry flavored lollipop.

I accept it as she uses an empty wrapper to mark her place in her book. "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." she says. I nod, "Is it any good?" I ask. Katie gives me a flat look, "You would know, you've read it five times." she says with a raised eyebrow.

I roll my eyes and turn to face Mel, only to see her with her tongue down Xavier's throat. I sigh, this is going to be a long train ride...