PAN || JAMES POTTER

III

"You're kidding!" 

Wendy dramatically threw herself onto the seat across from John and rested her feet on his knee, a pout on her face. John shoved her feet off to rest on the spot next to him, yet he was barely containing his laughter. Wendy had finished her rounds as quickly as possible and booked it to their compartment so she could share the news. She was confused when she saw that only John was in the room, but he quickly explained that their younger brother had gone to put on his robes a little earlier than necessary. She decided that without her influential baby brother in the compartment, she could act out a little more than usual.

"How I wish I could be kidding, dear brother, but alas. James-fucking-Potter is in fact our new Head Boy."

John was fully wheezing by now, but Wendy was sure it was from disbelief rather than true amusement. Of course, he might be slightly amused at his sister's expense. 

"I can't believe it," he finally said after calming down. "Old Albie has finally gone mad."

Wendy nudged John in the leg with her toe. "Don't call him that. He may have gone off his rocker but he's still your Headmaster."

The two chuckled for a few moments before  Wendy sighed. "I just don't even know what to think. The fact that James Potter was apparently more likely to Head Boy than I was to be Head Girl is just..." she trailed off, not quite knowing what it was.

"It'll be okay, sis, just think of it like this," John sat up straighter, calling on a somewhat fake air of wisdom. "At least he wasn't prefect before."

Wendy looked at her brother, not understanding. "How is that any better?"

"Because, now you only have to deal with his bullshit for one year, rather than three."

Wendy covered her hands with her face and sunk deeper into the seat- probably making her spine rather unhappy- and let out a loud, frustrated scream.

"Is Wendy okay?"

Upon hearing the voice of her youngest brother, Wendy sat up and looked at the compartment door. He was standing there with an expression that bordered on disturbed, but Wendy was too focused on his brand new uniform to worry about that. 

"Don't you look smart!" Wendy jumped up and hugged him, getting a better look at the full outfit. 

After Wendy took Michael to get his wand, she had to trade him off to Micael so she could go purchase all of her books, as their parents had work and were unable to take them to Diagon Alley. Therefore, Wendy had yet to see him in his robes. Needless to say, she was very proud and somewhat sad to see how grown-up he looked in them.

She leaned down slightly to match his height "Maybe tomorrow you'll add a yellow and black tie to this outfit," she gushed. 

"Or blue and bronze," John chimed in. 

Michael rolled his eyes. "No need to fight over me, you two." 

John opened his neglected book again and, without looking up, said, "Oh, I'm not concerned about you. I just want Nana to stay with me."

Michael stuck his tongue out at his big brother, and Wendy smiled at the two. 

. . .

After a few more hours and the other two Carter siblings changing into their own robes, the Hogwarts Express was finally pulling into Hogsmeade Station. Wendy stood up and stretched her arms out, letting out a yawn from sitting in the train car all day. 

"Well," she looked down at Michael. "This is where we part for a little while."

Michael stuck his bottom lip out, but hurried out of the compartment nonetheless. John and Wendy trailed after him. After walking at an excruciatingly slow speed with all of the other students, they came to a stop outside. Rubeus Hagrid was, as always, shouting for the first years to follow him. 

Michael looked up at his older siblings once more, a slight tinge of fear in his eyes. Wendy smiled at him and hugged him, before pulling back and messing up his hair. "It'll be alright, Mikey. Nothing you can't handle."

A new determination set in on his face, and smile slowly spread out on his lips. He gave John a high five and ran after the other first years to catch up with them. The two siblings chuckled before turning towards the carriages. 

"Go ahead and find your friends," Wendy said, stopping in front of a carriage she had seen a blond haired girl jump in to. "I'll see you again tonight, after the Sorting Ceremony."

John gave a thumbs up before turning around and jogging slightly to catch up with a girl and two boys that had passed them. After watching him laugh and hug his friends in greeting, Wendy shook her head fondly and climbed into the carriage where her best friends were sitting. 

"Wendy!" 

A short girl with wild, dark hair hopped up and nearly tackled Wendy in a hug. "Glo," she exclaimed back, squeezing her friend just as tightly in return. 

Gloria Noel is goofy, loud, and yet nothing short of stunning. With her generous curves, dark untamable hair, and perfect golden complexion, people were able to get over her big personality easily. Where Wendy is soft and quiet, Gloria is intense and outgoing. Where Wendy is sharp angles, Gloria is all curves. The two complemented each other perfectly.

As Gloria settled back into her seat, their other best friend, Benji, stood up to hug Wendy as well. Wendy went up on her tip-toes to hug the taller boy, and the two exchanged brief pleasantries before they both settled into the seats.

"This was the worst summer ever!" Glo dramatically groaned. "I didn't get to see you once, Wendy. I had to be stuck with this one." She flipped her hand in Benji's direction, who scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Benji is kind of adorable. His name is actually Benjamin, but he thinks that's too severe, so he's gone by Benji ever since his baby sister tried to say his name but couldn't quite get it right. He has a mop of fluffy black hair that never sits in one spot but still manages to seem styled. And, thanks to his parents being muggles, he has awesome fashion sense. He always says the one thing he doesn't like about Hogwarts is the uniforms. 

"You love it," Benji said and pointed at Gloria.

"On the contrary, all you could talk about was how much you want a significant other. I was miserable."

"I can't help that I have a lot of love to give." He crossed his arms.

Gloria laughed. "No, you just can't help that you boys do a lot of thinking with your di-"

"Gloria!" Wendy smacked her friend on the shoulder, cutting her off. Meanwhile, Gloria burst into laughter while Benji gave his best sickly-sweet smile and flipped her off. 

Once they settled down, Wendy spoke again. "You two need to behave and get along."

Glo and Benji looked at each other across the carriage and said, "Yes, Mummy," in perfect unison, before they both fell into fits of laughter.