Hero of the Story || James Potter x Hermione Granger Fanfiction

4 | and so here we go bluebird

iv.

and so here we go bluebird

(Bluebird by Sara Bareilles)

__________

September 1, 1972

Hermione smiled sadly at her mother who was trying her very best not to cry. Anya had been fussing over Peter for ages now, mothering him about the importance of studying and avoiding detentions. Peter's face had been red ever since they had gone through the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten and had been loudly complaining to Anya that he knew how to properly take care of himself.

"Why can't you nag Hermione instead?" he whined, shying away from her hands as she tried to tame his hair.

Anya darkly glared at her firstborn. "I'm not worried for Hermione," she explained. "Your sister's proven to be quite responsible and bright. I'm sure she's not the one who's going to give me a headache this year, young man."

Peter glanced over at Hermione with a pleading look on his face. Deciding that her poor brother had had enough, she sauntered towards Anya and wrapped her arms around her tiny waist. This stopped her fussing altogether, and their mother finally let her tears fall.

The older witch wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulders and sagged against her. "I'm going to miss you both so much," she sniffed. "Home will not be the same without you."

Her brother looked uncomfortable with their mother's display of emotions, but was sensitive enough to pat her on her back for comfort.

Anya sniffed and chuckled, haphazardly wiping her tears away, before pulling completely from Hermione's hug. "You're going to make me proud, I'm sure of it," she declared with a shaky smile on her face. She glanced at Peter and lightly glared. "Yes, even you, Peter. So be sure to study diligently and stay away from pranking, all right?"

"I'm sure that's not going to happen," Hermione said with a teasing grin.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Hermione will be there with me, Mum. She'll do the nagging for you," he shot back.

Anya sighed and pinched his cheek. "Insolent boy," she replied tenderly.

She shooed them away when the train whistle filled the bustling train station. "I love you both," she exclaimed once both Hermione and Peter were on the train. As the train departed, they wildly waved their hands in goodbye until they weren't able to see Anya anymore.

"I'm going to find James and the others," Peter said for his goodbye. But then, he paused and reluctantly looked back at Hermione. "Well... if you want to come..."

"And spend my first time riding the Hogwarts train with a bunch of smelly boys?" Hermione said, cutting him off. She wrinkled her nose. "No thanks."

Peter rolled his eyes. "We're not smelly."

"Your laundry basket begs to differ, though."

He pinched her side with an incredulous smile. "Idiot," he said. He grasped the handle of his trunk and looked thoughtful for a moment. "If you ever need anything, Hermione. Anything. Don't hesitate to come to me for help, yeah?"

"I'll keep that in mind, Petey," she said with a brilliant smile.

He bid his goodbye and went away to search for his friends.

Now that Hermione was alone, she felt a tad nervous as she tried to search for an empty compartment. Unfamiliar faces greeted her eyes, and she was too uncomfortable to share a carriage ride with people she didn't know. Hermione was intent on finding an empty compartment and was only able to find one when she'd reached a compartment at the back of the train.