Toujours Pur: Chamber of Horrors

Overjoyed and Ostentatious

In the morning I threw on my Gryffindor uniform haphazardly, I knew I would not have the energy to change on the train. I glanced in my truck and put my last minute things in. It was 9 in the morning and I had already showered. I grabbed my trunk and rolled it down the stairs, not caring to be quiet at all. I could hear grumbling coming for Nymphie's room and I smirked. Setting my trunk by the front door I walked back to the kitchen and made some light toast and oatmeal. I was still full from the breakfast at 2 in the morning. Andy came springing out of her office, her button up shirt was neatly tucked into some muggle black jeans. Her curly brown hair was slicked back into a ponytail. She surprisingly looked energized and like she had been up for awhile. She smiled at me and poured herself some tea. Before either of us could greet each other Ted and Nymphie came stomping down the stairs. Both were huddled up in identical yellow blankets, their hair was askew and they had identical looks of disgruntled weariness of their faces. They both made their way over to the couch and sat on opposite ends, snuggling up into the couch. There was no doubt that they were father and daughter, they both hated getting up.

Andy and I shared a bemused look before we silently formed a plan. She handed me my tools and grabbed hers. I walked over to Nymphie's side and she Ted's. I raised up my pan and spoon and put it near Nymphadora's head. She did the same with her pot and spoon to Ted's head. On the silent count of three we started beating our instruments. Ted and Nymphie shot up and glared at us. Nymphie yanked the pan and spoon from me and I bolted, she chased after me banging the pan, yelling 'How do you like it now!" Out of the corner of my eye I could see Andy running away from Ted as he promised her revenge. Ted caught Andy and started tickling her, her squeals echoed around the house. In my moment of distraction, Nymphie grabbed my head and put my into a headlock giving me a 'noogie' as she liked to call them. Andy and I called mercy at the same time and I huffed at Nymphie, she stuck my tongue out I stomped upstairs, Andy following me. We both had to fix our appearances, I straightened out my hair and threw it in a side pony.

Going back downstairs I waited in the living room for all three to come downstairs, Ted and Nymphie must have gone upstairs while I was fixing myself. Once everyone was downstairs I walked over to my trunk and sighed. It was 10 and we were going to apparate to the platform. I grabbed onto my trunk and Andy's hand and she turned slightly. With a pop I felt like I was being shoved through a tiny tube, my whole body being squeezed to fit. We landed at Platform 9 3/4, Ted and Nymphie showed up a second later. We put my trunk onto a trolley and headed towards the train. Nymphie pulled me into a one arm hug "Let me know if anyone gives your trouble, I'll hunt them down." She winked at me and I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't suppress my smile.

Andy pulled me into a full hug and I had to assure her that I did have everything and that I would write every other day. She straightened the collar on my shirt and told me to be be myself. I hugged her again and then turned to Ted. He was standing off to the side, on hand covering his face the other wrapped around his body. All of sudden he wailed 'My baby!" and I was yanked into his embrace, he bear hugged me. I could feel his body shaking with his sobs. "It feel like just yesterday you came into our lives, and now your leaving!" He wailed, hugging me tighter. If he went any tighter I would pass out.

"It was yesterday." Andy deadpanned as she pried me from Ted's hold. I gasped for air and looked wide-eyed who was now blubbering in Nymphadora's shoulder. Her embarrassed and horror struck face showed exactly how I felt.

"I promise to write, I will see you all for the holidays. Thank you." I grabbed my trunk and made my way to train. Right before I stepped on I looked back and rushed at them. Andy caught me and Nymphie and Ted joined in. I would miss my family, but I knew they would always be there for me. Easing out of the hug I waved goodbye and then got onto the train. I easily found an empty compartment in the middle of the train. I put my trunk up and sat on the bench. It was now 30 minutes before the train would leave and I could see all different people arriving. Parents waving off their children, soon I could hear people talking and chatting in the hallway. I left my train compartment door cracked so if anyone wanted to come in they could. I grabbed out a third year muggle studies book. I had mastered all of first, and had the notes and wand movement down for second. It made it easier that Lockhart's books had very little facts in them. I was keeping an open mind with those, especially since Lockhart would be the defense Professor. I would need to practice actually casting second-year spells, but I figured I would have plenty of time. I had already started taking some notes of third-year material. Ted had bought me books for all the electives for third year so I had more time to learn about them and figure out which ones would truly interest me.