Fearless | S.Black

Chapter 2

The train pulls into the station and everyone hurries out into the aisles. I carefully pick my way around people as I walk down the platform. The hairs on my neck stand up and slowly allow my wand to slip into my hand. A muttered curse nearby.

I spin on my heel and throw up a quick shield, glaring daggers at the culprit. Sirius gives me a charismatic smile in return, it quickly drops when I throw my own curse. Since it was unexpected it manages to hit him square in the chest, causing him to fly backwards.

I give a triumphant smirk and turn back around, throwing my wand up when a jinx is cast at me. Remus appears at my side, holding in barely contained laughter. "I do believe you're the only one who could ever get one over on either of them." he says animatedly.

I walk up to a carriage with my friends already inside, "I'd love to stay and chat but I've got things to do and places to be. Plus, I'm sure your friends aren't too happy right now and as much as I'd love to see their faces I'd also like to make it to the Welcoming Feast." I say.

Remus gives a two finger wave with one hand in his pocket before turning and walking off, probably to find his friends. Mel laughs, "Did you see their faces?!" she asks. "You know, for a Hufflepuff you sure do love laughing at other people's misfortunes." Xavier comments.

"Says the gryffindor who couldn't turn a bunny into a tea cup because it might hurt him." Mel says mockingly. Katie rolls her eyes as we pull to a stop in front of the castle. "See you guys tomorrow morning." I say. Everyone choruses a goodbye of their own and we part ways.

I take a seat at the Slytherin table, next to Regulus and Severus. Severus nods in greeting while Regulus simply ignores me. The first years are lead into the hall and the sorting begins, the first person to get sorted is a small gangly boy with blondish hair.

He puts on the hat and a few seconds later the hat declares Ravenclaw. I spot Katie amongst the cheering table, her nose in her book as she's jostled by the cheering housemates on either side of her. The next is a girl with raven hair down to her shoulders.

The hat declares Slytherin and I heartily cheer asking with the rest of my housemates. My eyes scan the other tablets and sure enough I find Sirius and James avidly booing. The girl looks hurt at the two Gryffindors. I shove a few students out of the way.

I motion for the girl to take a seat next to me, she hesitantly obeys. The cheering dies down as the next first year is called up. "What's your name?" I ask the girl. "Autumn." she says nervously. "Nice to meet you Autumn, I'm Zara." I say happily.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." I add as an afterthought. Autumn glances up at me and flinches when Hufflepuff erupts in cheers. I place a hand on her arm, bringing her gaze back to me. "Why don't you sit with me and we can get to know one another." I suggest.

Autumn smiles, "Sure." she says eagerly. I laugh, "What do you want to know about me?" I ask. "Um...do you have any siblings?" Autumn asks. "I had brother but he died when I was two so I don't remember him." I say. Autumn frowns and her shoulders slump, "Oh." she says.

"What about you? Do you have any siblings?" I ask. "I have a sister, she's only five though." Autumn responds. I nod and my attention is drawn to Dumbledore as he stands. I nudge Autumn and motion for her to pay attention. Dumbledore smiles as the hall quiets.

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all back to another year at Hogwarts." he pauses and briefly meets everyone's eyes. "As always, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. It is now wise to disobey this rule for it could cost you a trip to the Hospital Wing at the very least." he says.

"But alas. That's not why we're here. We're to celebrate and so that's what we'll do. I wish all of you the best of luck." he finishes. He raises his glass and everyone follows him, full platters heaped with food appear on the tables and everyone starts to dig in greedily.

I eat my food carefully, making sure not to spill any of it on my clothes. Autumn doesn't seem to care next me and has a variety of questionable stains on her clothes by the end of the feast. We walk with the rest of our house down to the dungeons and Autumn stays close to me.

She holds my robes tightly when we pass through the common room door. "Do you want to hang out here for a little while before bed?" I ask. Autumn nods vigorously, "Ok. Go get your pajamas and meet me back down here in ten minutes." I say.

Autumn nods and rushes up the stone stairs to the girls' dormitories, I follow after her slowly. Violet and Zoë don't even look up when I enter, I change into a pair of loose silk shorts and a matching top before pulling a robe over the outfit and putting on a pair of slippers.

I head downstairs and find Autumn waiting for me on a couch in front of the fire. She has a book in her lap that I recognize as The Tales is Beetle the Bard. "I was hoping you could read to me, my mum always does to me and my sister before we got to bed." Autumn says.

I smile, "Sure. What story?" I ask. Autumn smiles, "Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump." Autumn says. I flip to the page and Autumn lays her head in my lap as I read the book, pulling a blanket over her shoulders. I behind reading the story.

A few minutes into the story I glance down and see Autumn is asleep. I smile with a soft awe and carefully cradle her to my chest. I carry her up the stairs to her dormitory and gently lay her on the bed, noticing all the other girls are asleep as I tuck her into her bed.

I exit the room and head up to my own dorm room, slipping under the covers and staring at the emerald drapes of my four poster bed until sleep finally claims me...