Diverse - HARRY POTTER

Joshua - 2

Year 2

Saturday - 31st August – 1:00PM

Diagon Alley was black with wizards doing their final bits of shopping before their children return to Hogwarts. The Outsiders included. A few more books mainly.

The book shop was flooded with people trying to get a glimpse at whoever was standing at the top. I'm too short to see, but by the looks of things it must be a boy.

"Hey Jess, your mothers drool is seeping out of her mouth." Win nudged Jess hard in the arm, which caused all of us including the parents to look.

"Winston Wixx! I am not drooling; I am simply observing the brilliance of Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart if you must know." Jess' mother tore her eyes away long enough to say. Each of us got handed a book with the picture of the handsome man on the front.

Not a minute later Jess and her mother were in the line to get an autograph. Win had spotted someone he knew and went off in that direction, leaving only me and Ed.

"What's their deal? He's not even that good looking." Ed's eyes followed the long line of people. Behind him a head of ginger hair was bobbing along.

"Hello Ron." I say.

"Hello." He replies and Ed turns around instantly. I'm almost certain he doesn't know my name.

Ron is also here with his whole family, my goodness there's a lot of them. 5 kids! The only one I recognise is Percy, though, since he's a prefect.

Ron and Ed delve into some conversation about how they just lost Harry in the floo network, whatever that is.

Just as I'm about to join Jess and her mother in the line, the handsome man speaks loudly with, who I think to be, Harry by his side. He hands him a whole set of books and the cameras start flashing. I feel bad for Harry; he looks extremely uncomfortable.

Finally, he announces he'll be the new Defence against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts.

Yay!

He staggers over awkwardly to where we are all standing, my presence once again ignored. It's fine, I don't really mind. Draco appears on the stairs just behind with Win behind him.

"Famous Harry Potter," said Malfoy. "Can't even go to a bookshop without making the front page."

I mean he's not wrong. A girl Ron stands in front of Harry and speaks up, I admire her bravery.

"Leave him alone!" she can't be any older than I am, but I've never seen her before.

"Oh look Potter, got yourself a girlfriend?" Draco snarls at the girl, I don't like the tension build up between Ed and Win in this room. Both of them are staring at each other, yet neither are sticking up for one another. I just roll my eyes and join Jess.

Gilderoy's introduction to Ms. Black was slightly over friendly, kissing her on the cheek and taking many pictures together. He even said he'd write to her.

"We think she has to have veela blood in her somewhere." I hear Win's dad saying to his wife.

---

Sunday – 1st of September – 8:50am

Back at platform 9 3/4 . Again. My trunk is heavy in my hand and Cheese is safely secured in the inside of my jacket pocket. Everyone on the platform was saying goodbye to their family members and boarding the train, eyes lit and smiles big. My friend's no different from the rest.

I've had such a great summer with my friends that I don't want to go back. Ever.

In all honesty I don't have any friends at Hogwarts, except the outsiders of course but even then they have formed their own alliances that I'm not a part of. This summer reassured me of course were still best friends, but things change when we get inside that school.

My father told me I don't have to go back, when I cried this morning about having to go. He said he'd be more than happy to have me stay home and attend muggle school, but even then I would still be lonely.

At least I have cheese. Cheese and I, we do everything together. Also I still have this long train ride with them so I guess that's something.

The train ride basically consisted of how Win is going to be on the quidditch team, Jess will be top in all her classes and Ed will go on some crazy adventure somehow. While mine is to get through the year.

"Yeah, well I'm going to make sure Hufflepuff win the house cup this year."

"Sting don't kid yourself, everyone knows it will be Gryffindor again since precious Harry Potter is in it." Win replied.

"That's not true, we won because we are better, don't be petty about it." Ed snapped.

"You know if Ha-" Win began but Jess cut them both off.

"Shut it! Harry or no Harry, Ravenclaw are and always will be better." With a flick of her long blonde hair she took her trunk and left, of course having the last word.

"She's not wrong." I shrug and go out to join her.

I take my usual seat at the end of the Hufflepuff table, watch the sorting ceremony and eat in silence.

At least I'll do well in my classes I think.