Black's Lost Daughter//A Harry Potter Love Story (Book Two)

CHAPTER TWO - TRAINS AND AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION

"Don't forget to write every week," Remus rambled, messing with the collar of Hope's shirt as he spoke, "and do your homework, and don't get in too much trouble. My heart can't take another year of hearing of all the stupid things you do at school."

"Uncle Remus," Hope spoke, her voice soothing as Remus's faded into silence, "I'll be okay. I'll eat my vegetables, stay safe, and do my homework. I promise." Hope threw her arms around Remus's waist and squeezed tightly.

"I trust you," Remus responded, bending down to press a kiss to Hope's head before pulling away and crouching to look the girl in the eyes. "I love you and I will see you at Christmas."

"I love you too, Uncle Remus," Hope replied, pressing a kiss to Remus's cheek before grabbing her magically lightened trunk and ran through the magical barrier. Hope smiled brightly when she saw the bright red train and the students milling around with their parents.

"Ellie!" The girl in question spun around when she heard her name and practically beamed when she saw Neville, one of the only people who dared to call her Ellie, heading towards her. "I thought you were going to be late."

"Potions! You know Uncle Remus," Hope laughed, her tone dry and sarcastic, "there was no way in hell I would ever miss this train. He's forty minutes early to everything, he was just repeating the same instructions he's been telling me for the last week."

Neville laughed, rolling his eyes as he pulled Hope in for quick hug. "I don't believe you've met my grandmother yet," he spoke, motioning to the aged woman standing next to him. The old woman raised her hand and Hope tensed momentarily, staring intently at the woman before hesitantly raising her hand and shaking firmly.

"Lady Longbottom, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"As it is you, Heir Black," the woman responded, releasing the girl's hand and smiling uncomfortably, although it looked more like a grimace. "You may call me Augusta, Heir Black."

"Thank you, Augusta," Hope responded, raising an eyebrow when the woman stared at her with expectation, "well, Neville and I should probably get on the train now." Hope grabbed Neville's hand and dragged him towards the train, giggling slightly as Neville looked at her with disbelief written across his face.

"You're meant to give her permission to use your name as well, Ellie," Neville laughed, stepping onto the train and dumping his trunk in the first empty carriage he found.

"No, Potions," Hope responded, walking into the compartment and curling up in the corner, "I can offer her the use of my name, but I do not have to, it is no requirement." Hope giggled, pulling a thin leatherbound book out of her bag. "Besides, I shook her hand."

"Only you, Ellie, only you." Neville shook his head and settled down onto the sofa. "What's with the book, you starting a diary?"

"It was my father's," Hope explained, shaking the book slightly to emphasise her point, "I found it while I was cleaning, and I was hoping it would tell me something that could prove he was innocent."

"Any luck?" Neville questioned, pulling a potions textbook out of his bag so he could read ahead and limit the possibility of him embarrassing himself again.

"I'm not sure," Hope responded, flicking to a page and throwing the book to Neville, "half of its written in some random code but he used the same words throughout so I'm trying to work it out."

Neville read over the words, humming slightly, "he seems to use the same nicknames throughout, any reason? Like do they have a special meaning or something?"

"What do you mean?" Hope asked, frowning slightly and looking up in confusion, "I just assumed he picked a random word so no one would know it was them."