We Are The Cursed Children (Harry Potter Self-Insert Fic because why tf not?)

New Friends

Francis stuck her hands in her pockets, looking down to watch her steps.

She had started walking, heading to the end of the street to take a break.

Having a nice short walk to breathe the fresh air helped calm her mind, for the most part at least. Her mind was still muddled with thoughts, but at least the fresh air let her actually think straight.

Stopping at a light post, Francis sat down on the curb. The Friday afternoon was buzzing with people, chatter loud with laughter and cheers. Francis watched as people passed by.

There goes a family of four, the youngest jumping on the cracks of the pavement.

There goes a little boy crying as his mother pulled him away from a candy store. She didn't even know they had candy stores here.

There goes an unruly group of boys jumping on each other, heading into... "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes"? That was a strange name, a mouthful too.

A small rat scattered across the street, weaving through feet after feet. Usually, Francis would grimace and look away, but she wished she was the rat. Not in the sense that she wanted to be dirty and frowned upon.

But in the sense that she wanted to run away.

Francis, just like every other teenager going through "things", had always had the urge to run away. To just get up and go somewhere, anywhere, that wasn't here... that was a dream.

She loved her friends, she really did. But sometimes they were draining.

She loved going out and experiencing fun. But sometimes it was anxiety-driven.

She loved being happy. But sometimes it was hard to be happy.

Ugh, why was she having these thoughts in the middle of a crowded magical alleyway? There were strangers everywhere, mostly likely casting her strange looks. It would be a weird sight, seeing a young girl sitting alone on a curbside. 

She also loved her cousin... But sometimes, they needed space.

Francis needed space. And right now, she didn't have any space.

She could just leave and go back to Hogwarts, stay in her room, and avoid any questioned her roommates had. But that would mean leaving behind her crew with an explanation. No one liked being ditched.

Francis sighed, pulling her knees up to rest her head on them. She curled up, staring at the legs of passersby. 

Bright red heels.

Worn-out blue sneakers.

Leather bound boots.

Black sandals.

Black... vans?

"Mind if I join?"

Francis glared up at the voice, the frown getting more menacing as she saw Yuri standing there, wearing a polite smile on that stupidly symmetrical face of his.

Francis rolled her eyes but shrugged.

When Yuri sat down next to her, she noticed the way he had to bend his legs in an awkward position so as too not to trip anyone. It'd be uncomfortable for a guy his height to curl up like she was, but it was also rude to stick out his legs on a street. So Yuri was content with semi-crossing his legs.

There was an awkward moment of silence between them, the only sound was of people walking by.

Usually, Francis liked silence... But it was too quiet.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Francis asked, a little too harsh.

Yuri must've not noticed or didn't care, because he let out a soft chuckle. Francis still looked ahead, watching leg after leg move across her vision.