~Poisoned Love~

Chapter 1 - Platform

    
     I lay down on the cool, comfortable sheets for the last time. I look around at the room, surrounded by the tokens of my childhood memories. A picture of mum and me, my riding trophy from back when I was younger. My eyes close, I feel the urge to let out a cry. I miss her. I grind my teeth back and forth, as tears silently fill my eyes. My shaking hands became clenched fists as I dug my fingers into my palms. I could feel my bottom lip starting to quiver, but I try hard to hold back my emotions. My mother was a witch, and a good one at that. She attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but a while ago she disappeared without a trace. I never got a letter, nothing, it has been nearly four years now and neither me nor my Gran had heard a thing.

     I practically drag myself out of bed and am standing now, taking in the last few moments of my surroundings. My luggage was packed neatly in the corner thanks to my Gran, she had been an awful good support these past few years and every chance I get I try to remind her of how thankful I truly am. I take out my wand from my boot and point it towards the luggage on the opposite side of the room, "Wingardium Leviosa," and with that I turn to walk downstairs, my baggage hovering close beside me.

     "You all ready my dear?" Gran questions as I make my way into the dimly lit kitchen. It was quarter past six in the morning, the sun's golden rays casting subtle hues through a single window above the sink. I nod in response, taking a green apple from the fruit bowl on the table. I turn to face Gran, who already seemed to be fixated on me, I can see she hasn't gotten much sleep, her blue eyes emotioned with what I'd assume to be sadness. She didn't want me to leave, that I had known because she had told me time and time again, partially because she would be all alone in this house. "Let's get your things packed in the car then, yeah?" she must've known that I was picking up on her sorrow and decided to change the subject because she quickly spun around on her heels and swung the front door open.

     The summer weather in London this year was exceptionally beautiful, but today was rather chilly. I was quite grateful to have kept my Durmstrang sweater from last year, I slid it over me and pressed my cheek against the soft, red fabric. 'I'm going to miss it there,' I thought to myself. Last year my Gran had some complications with money so she made the wise decision to move into the old house she grew up in located here in London. As much as I wanted to stay at Durmstrang I knew that I had no other choice but to attend Hogwarts, so here I am, on my way to the London station. I close my eyes and place my head on the side of the car door, the sun beaming down on my face and warming my cold skin, and with that I fall asleep.

     "We're here darling," I hear a faint voice utter, "Come now dear we're going to be late!" I struggle to open my eyes for a moment, but when I do I am greeted with an overwhelming amount of muggles scurrying around to board their trains. It's so loud and crowded that I can't help but let out an annoyed groan. I open up the car door and gather all my luggage, Gran hitting my hands away at times muttering "I got it, I got it." I glance around quickly to see if there's anyone here that I may know, before closing the trunk of the car and making my way into the swarm of people.

     "Freya dear, what platform are we to go to?" Gran asks as she trails behind me. I glance down at the ticket in my hand and bring it closer so I could read it "Platforms 9 ¾"

     "It's just up here!" I say, still concentrated on the gold rimmed piece of paper. I run my fingers over it and admire how elegant it is, the train tickets to Durmstrang weren't anything special, just plain white pieces of paper with a boring font. I was walking rather quickly now, and lost deep in thought, I didn't even seem to notice the people around me at this point. I looked up to see a boy, at least one step in front of me, obscuring my path, my eyes widened as my feet stumbled over his and my books and luggage fell to the floor in a clatter.

     "Woah, sorry I-" The boy rushed into an apology as his hand wrapped around my waist and held me there, safe from falling, our eyes met for a moment and the boy forced himself to look away, I could feel my cheeks burning bright red.

     "It- It's alright, don't worry," I stutter, turning my attention to the ground where my ticket had fallen. I pick it up, examining it quickly, and try my best to clean off the smudges of dirt with the corner of my sweater. I looked up from the ticket expecting to meet the boy's worried eyes and to assure him that I was alright, but to my astonishment he had vanished.

    "Freya dear," I spin around at the sound of my Gran's voice, I must've been walking rather fast because she was a whole platform away from where I was. "Are you alright?" she questions out of breath, picking up my Potions textbook from the ground and placing it neatly on the carrier. I struggled to find the words to express what had just occurred so I just gave her a reassuring nod and continued my way to Platforms 9 and 10.

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     Once we arrived at the Platform, I gave my luggage to the porter and turned to give my Gran a hug. "You'll do great," she says, tightening her grip around my waist, "You best write me as soon as you get the chance, young lady, are we clear?" I smile and give her a kiss on the cheek. "Of course Gran I-" the train's loud whistle cuts me off, but she gives me one last warming smile before ushering me on board.

     The train was buzzing with excited first years, running up and down the aisles with what I'd assume to be their first year friends. I struggled to squeeze past them, giving apologetic smiles when bumping into one. Even though I was a fifth year, I was just like them, starting fresh at a new school. 'I might as well be considered a first year,' I thought to myself as I made my way further down towards the back of the train. All of the cabins on the train seemed to be full, but I didn't give up trying to find a seat. Once I reached the back of the train I noticed a cabin that was seemingly empty, a singular black cloak was draped covering the corner of one of the seats to the right. I step in and close the cabin door shut behind me. I decide to take a seat across from the cloak not knowing who it was and also not wanting any trouble, I open the window and stick my head out, searching around for my Gran but to no avail. I let out a deep sigh and sat back in my seat. It was much cooler on the train so I gently took the pins out of my hair, letting my soft, brown locks fall neatly past my shoulders.

     As I got settled, I could overhear the faint voices of other students in the cabins next to mine, laughing and talking about god knows what. To be honest I felt a bit left out, it's not like I know anyone who attends Hogwarts but I wished I had at least one person in this cabin with me who I could get to know. To my surprise the train had started to move, the sound of the wheels turning on the tracks was exhilarating, but I was still quite nervous. I took one more look to see if I could spot my Gran, but again, no sign of her at all. I let out a whimper as the faces of parents and guardians all waved their children goodbye, their mixed emotions of happiness and sadness, and I was left wishing that mine were here to do the same.