Flame || F. WEASLEY

Chapter 2 - Reunited

King's Cross is hell. Muggle train stations are always a chaotic place, full of people running to their almost-leaving train or strolling through at a leisurely pace. Throw in a bunch of wizard families who have to get their kids to a secret platform and onto a train....

It's not pretty.

We do manage to make it to Platform 9 ¾ without much fuss, though Stella does manage to steer the cart with our trunks on it into a few people. I can't tell if it's an accident or if she's doing it purposefully. We deliver the cart to one of the many train hands who are loading the storage compartments.

My parents stand next to me and Stella as we wait for anyone we know to appear out of the crowd. Stella cranes her neck, looking for the tell-tale dark hair and bronze skin of Adora. I can't help but scan the crowd too, though I'm not exactly sure who I'm looking for. My friends or a certain red-haired wizard? Adora breaks from the throng, rushing my sister in a hug before she politely greets our parents.

I'm so distracted that I don't notice the blonde head making its way toward me until I'm staring face-to-face with Nora.

"Amelia! How have you been?" Nora grins. She accepts the hug I give her, though she's particular about physical affection. I remember the first time she hugged me and how excited I was that she trusted me.

"I've been well, what about you?"

"Oh you know, the same." She waves her hand around as she talks. Her blond hair is pulled up into a bun on top of her head, though a few wisps have escaped. It's incredibly long though she refuses to cut it.

"We need to go snag a compartment before all the first years do!"

Before I can respond, she takes off and weaves through the crowd toward the train. I say goodbye to my parents, as does Stella, before grabbing my bag and following Nora. Our parents call their love and well wishes after us.

I manage to catch Nora just as she makes it to the train.

"Have you seen anyone else?" I ask, climbing up the stairs.

"I think I saw them boarding earlier."

She was right. We find them in a compartment towards the center of a car. Avianna, with her brown hair and sky-blue eyes, sits by the window. She's Mini's roommate in Slytherin and quickly fit in with our group first year. She offers me a small smile as Nora and I enter the compartment

Mini sits next to her with her nose already tucked snuggly in the pages of a book. It had surprised me when she was sorted into Slytherin, considering her vicious thirst for knowledge. But it was eclipsed by her need to break any rule set in front of her, just to see if she can.

Nora claims the other window seat, swinging her bag onto the metal shelf above our heads. I do the same before settling in. I don't mind sitting closer to the aisle; I like to watch people pass by. Not to mention when the trolley comes.

Avianna asks Nora about her summer and I reach across to lift Mini's book up slightly to read the title. She doesn't even flinch. It's some muggle romance novel, and if I had to guess, a particularly raunchy one. Despite her practicality, she could never turn down a good romance. We often took turns reading them when they were particularly juicy.

"How many did you bring?" I ask.

Mini marks her page and sets the book down. "10, I think."

I grin. "I only brought 4."

"Well, you'll have to borrow some of mine then." Her smile tells me all I need to know about what books she brought.

"I'll remember that."

As the train pulls away from the station, we all talk about what we did over the summer and our upcoming plans for fall. We don't have to worry about our N.E.W.T's until next year, though Adora has been asking me to tutor her for her upcoming O.W.L's.

"You know, I've heard rumors that they're bringing back the Triwizard Tournament this year," Mini says, a conspirator's grin on her face.

"No way," I say, "It's way too dangerous."

"More dangerous than what Potter and his friends are up to every year?" Avianna butts in.

I have to concede that point.

"Wait. Does that mean we'll be having the Yule Ball as well?" Nora pipes up. I'd completely forgotten about the ball that accompanies the Tournament.

Mini's grin widens. "Yes. And two other schools will be attending."

"I'm going to that ball with Cedric," Nora declares.

We all nod sagely as if she'd spoken something wise. Nora cracks first, her laughter spilling out as we all join in.

"That's more likely to happen than Amelia finally making a move," Avianna needles. Mischief dances in my friends' eyes as they all turn their attention to me. It makes me want to run from the compartment.

"Sooo," Mini leans in, batting her dark lashes and leveling her dark gaze at me. "You think you'll score a date with a Weasley to the Yule Ball?"

"Maybe I'll score a date with someone else," I jab back.

My friends gasp dramatically.

"Someone else?" Avianna brings a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. Laughter dances there and her hand hides her grin.

Before I can say anything else, something -- or someone -- slams into our compartment door. We all shriek and turn to find the Weasley twins grinning at us through the glass. My traitorous heart stutters in my chest as they slide the door open and lean against the door jamb. I'd hoped this last year of being relatively ignored and the summer away would have dimmed the crush I had but it reappears with renewed vigor.

"Just the lovely ladies we were looking for," George smirks.

"What do you two want?" Avianna asks, an eyebrow raised in a perfect arch. I squash down the fluttering in my stomach, trying for disinterest as I look at the twins.

Looking at them was a mistake. They'd only gotten more handsome. Their hair had gotten long, barely brushing their jaws and giving them a roguish appearance. They've shot up in the past two years and now they tower over us. Fred catches my eye and winks at me, a lazy smile spreading across his face.

My stomach flips and I silently call it a traitor as he replies to Avianna. "What? Are we not allowed to visit our friends?"

"You only visit us when you want something."

"You all make such good co-conspirators. A Ravenclaw's wit, Slytherin's cunning, and Hufflepuff's kindness to balance out all this Gryffindor genius."

I roll my eyes, the fluttering dying down. I should've known they'd seek us out about their pranks. Nora was a whiz at potions, much to Professor Snape's dismay, as well as herbology. Avianna could curse a mean hex, and often taught them to their younger sister Ginny, while Mini excelled at charms. Transfiguration was my own particular talent, which they loved to use.

"We've got quite a few tricks up our sleeves this year," George says.

"You always have a few tricks up your sleeves," I finally find my voice.

"And that's why you love us, Williams," Fred smirks.

I want to curse as I feel the blush creep across my cheeks. The ringing of a bell stops them from tormenting us more. The trolley.

"We'll be off," Fred says.

"See you around," George grins before they make off back to their compartment.

I hadn't realized how stiffly I was holding myself until I relax into my seat. Mini throws back her head and laughs.

"Oh yes, you're so going to the Yule Ball with someone else," she wheezes between laughs. Nora gives me a playful nudge as Avianna smiles as well. "You can barely see straight when he's around."

"I don't want any of your romance advice." I snatch her book from where she set it aside before flipping open to a random page and begin to read it aloud. Our laughter echoes throughout the rest of the train car as I find a particularly interesting chapter.