The Lost Witch

Prologue 2

As they ran to the platform, they saw more people in front of them. They had made it to Platform 9¾.

As Jo was walking to put her trucks in their compartment, she overheard a conversation.

"...I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry! Listen--" she heard a young girl's voice say, "Maybe once I'm there-- no, listen, Tuney! Maybe once I'm there, I'll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and persuade him to change his mind!"

Jo smiled at herself. She wants to bring her sister to Hogwarts. That's so sweet.

Her smile, however, faded after the sister spoke.

"I don't-- want-- to-- go! You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a-- a...-- you think I want to be a-- a freak?"

Jo was have punched this girl if her father hadn't come over and taken her back to her family. How ungrateful.

"I can't wait to be a second year," James said to Jo, waving his hands about. "We can try out for the Gryffindor quidditch team."

"Who said you're in Gryffindor?" their mother said with a smile.

"Dad said if we weren't in Gryffindor, we were going to be disowned," Jo said bluntly, completely throwing her father under the bus.

"Fleamont!" Mrs. Potter shouted with her hands on her hips.

"JO! Come on! That was between us three. And..," he looked at his wife, who had the threat murder on her face, and promptly reevaluated all of his life choices. "I was kidding."

"Kids, we don't care which house you get, or at least I don't. Also, don't believe what your father says. We'll be proud of you no matter the house."

"ALL ABOARD THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS!" the conductor yelled. All around Jo, families were saying their final goodbyes.

"Well, this was fun. See you two at Christmas." James said distractedly, trying to get onto the train.

Jo grabbed her brother and yanked him in a hug with the rest of their family.

"Okay children, now get on the train before I decide to take you back home. Make sure to send letters." Mrs. Potter said. She looked at Jo and James, her two children all grown up, and smiled sadly. The house would be far more quiet without them.

As they got on the train, James broke away from his sister to go find his friend, but before he left, he told her to go find a compartment.

She opened the door to a compartment near the end of the train. Inside she saw a redheaded girl, who appeared to also be a first year, that seemed to be crying.

"Are you alright?" Jo asked awkwardly. She stared at the girl, rubbing the back of her neck. She probably should find a different compartment, but they all seemed to be full.

"I'm fine. Do you need this compartment? I can find another one." she stated, getting up.

"No, you were here first. I was just wondering if me and my brother and one of his friends could sit here? You know what," she said, thinking better of it, "I'll just find another compartment- -"

"No, it's fine. It's not like I'm expecting anyone else. There's no reason for there only to be me in here." They stared at each other for a few seconds. "I probably should introduce myself. I'm Lily. Lily Evans."

"I'm Jo Potter. If you don't mind, may I ask you why you're crying?" she said sitting down.

"My sister called me a freak and said she was glad they separated us from them." She said, starting to cry harder.