Insecurities (Professor Lupin)

Chapter One

Madeleine Jones sat peacefully on the Hogwarts express, choosing to sit alone on the journey, allowing herself some time to think. She had been born to muggle parents and when they found out what she was, they had promptly abandoned her, sending her off to Hogwarts without thinking twice about it, because of this Madeleine had been terrified to make friends when she had arrived at Hogwarts. What if these new people had the same thought process as her parents? But that had changed when she had sat on the train for the very first time and a young blonde girl had introduced herself before sitting in the empty seat opposite Madeleine. It was then that Madeleine realised that her anxiety had been unnecessary, that there were probably many other children that stood in the same position as her, but she quickly realised that this was untrue. The other young witches and wizards parents had supported and helped them, unlike her own parents.

Madeleine sighed softly. She was not that lost little girl anymore, she was a young adult, with few loyal friends despite her hesitance at making them. They had stuck with her all through school, and now that they would be entering their final year, they had to decide what they wanted to do in the future. Of course they were all upset that this would be their final year together, but Madeleine was mostly upset that she wouldn't be able to see her closest friend every day. Lucy, the blonde who had soothed her anxiety on that very first day on the train to Hogwarts.

It was a few more minutes before her peace was disrupted. Madeleine raised her head to watch as Lucy entered her compartment, much like she had in first year. "Mads! It took me fucking forever to find you!" Lucy grinned from ear to ear, her blonde hair pushed back from her face to show her features. Her smile was genuine and it showed her gentle teasing along with the affection that she carried for the other girl. Madeleine stood and the girls hugged, before taking their seats again and getting comfortable. They discussed their summer apart that they hadn't already written about to each other and they eventually navigated their conversation to Hogwarts.

"Heard there's a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, wonder if he'll be any good." Madeleine thought about Lucy's statement. Everyone was well aware that the position was a mess. Dumbledore seemingly hired anyone who could hold a wand to fill the position. This had resulted in their class scraping by in their last exams, and meant they were behind for their currently upcoming ones. "Maybe we'll finally get one who's more into teaching than they are into themselves." It was barely a mumble of a reply, but it received no response as the train started to slow and a chill started to crawl through the air. Madeleine rubbed her arm with the hope that the friction was warm her slightly, but it did nothing to help.

The girls looked at each other before Madeleine broke the silence. "What the hell is going on out there?" She stood quickly, opening the door to the compartment and sticking her head out to look down the train. She was met with the fearful looks of the other children, so she stepped out of her compartment and started to ask the other children to shut the doors and sit down. It wasn't long before the corridor was cleared again and on her way back to her compartment she saw the back of a tall man heading towards the front of the train. Paying no mind to him, she went back to her seat, settling herself beside Lucy. "You figure out what it was?" Madeleine shook her head and sighed, curling up into the seat and laying her head back. Whatever had been on the train was now gone, and Hogwarts was still a long journey away. She tried to focus on what Lucy was trying to tell her, but it wasn't long before she fell asleep.

Madeleine woke to her shoulder being gently shaken and her name being called. She opened her eyes and was met with Lucy smiling down at her. "Look Mads, we're here." The girls moved out of the train with their luggage, making their way to the carriages. After the journey was over, the girls walked side by side into the castle, making their way to the great hall.