𝐒𝐇𝐄 ϟ 𝐀 𝐇𝐎𝐆𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘

𝐢. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐠𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

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𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄-𝐀𝐍𝐃-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄-𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 stood before jackie vane, a portal to her past and a gateway to her future. as she approached, a wave of nostalgia washed over her, pulling her back to the vibrant memories of her childhood. she could almost feel the rush of excitement that had surged through her the first time she had stepped through the barrier.

the day had been bright, the air crisp with the promise of adventure. she remembered the gust of wind that had greeted her, ruffling her long, wavy hair as the hogwarts expressed loomed ahead, its whistle echoing through the station like a siren call. the station had appeared larger than life, filled with the laughter and chatter of students, all eager to embark on their magical journeys.

that day, she had been there to send off her older brother, adonis. his luggage in tow, he had taken marshmallow, the beloved family kitty, from her hands, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of departure for his first year at hogwarts. "i'll see you at christmas, jackie. take care of wendy for me, won't you?" he had said, his tone bittersweet, a mixture of excitement and longing.

eight-year-old jackie had crossed her arms, feeling a mix of pride and envy as their mother, junie vane, pushed through the throng of people, her face flushed with emotion. adonis sighed, enveloping her in a warm hug. "be good, adonis. i swear, if i have to send you a howler, i will! i don't care if i have to apparate to hogwarts directly, boy!" junie had warned, cradling her newborn daughter, wendy, in her other arm, pressed to her collar. the chill in the air matched the bittersweet ache in jackie's heart as the whistle blew again, signalling the train's imminent departure.

heath vane, their father, had beamed with pride, his eyes glistening as he watched his firstborn prepare to embark on a journey that would shape his future. "listen to your mother, son," he had said, patting adonis on the shoulder, a gesture filled with paternal love and encouragement. "be good, focus on your classes and write when you can!"

as the train began to pull away, adonis waved goodbye, his silhouette growing smaller until it vanished from view. "see you at christmas!" he had called, his voice fading into the distance.

jackie had felt the hot sting of tears welling up, but she had fought them back, determined not to show weakness. all she had ever wanted, from the moment she had first heard tales of hogwarts, was to be part of that world—to learn about magic, to belong. "bye, don!" she had choked out, jumping up and down, her heart heavy with longing.

after that day, the house had felt emptier, and jackie had spent countless hours wishing she could trade places with her brother, yearning for the adventures he was having.

now, standing before platform nine-and-three-quarters, she felt a strange disorientation. marshmallow sat in his crate above all her other luggage, meowing loudly at jackie. how had she gotten here? all her belongings were intact, yet her memory of the journey was a blank slate. did she drive? the thought flitted through her mind, but she brushed it aside as she checked her watch, panic rising in her chest. ten-fifty-five. she was about to miss her train!

with determination, she picked up her bags, scanning the platform for any muggles. heart racing, she took a deep breath and stepped forward, just as the familiar whistle of the hogwarts express pierced the air, igniting a spark of excitement within her.