Ivy boarded the red Hogwarts express with an excited expression.
Today was the first day out since she had been out of her house. She had spent the entire summer vacation trapped inside her house with no access to the outside. But today was the first of September, and there wasn't an active Hogwarts student that wasn't at the Kings Crossing Station.
"There are a lot of people," said Hermione, looking around the platform. "I wasn't expecting these many people to come."
Ivy looked around, and while Hermione said there were a lot of people, there wasn't that much of a difference from the previous years. However, after last year's break-in, neither of them was expecting the turnout to be the same. The last time they had seen, the parents were pulling their children away with declarations of never letting them return. But here they were, seeing those very people standing on the platforms.
"They must be pressured by the attacks," muttered Ivy.
"The attack outside your house might've been what made all consider Hogwarts safer than their own homes," Hermione narrowed her eyes towards her best friend.
"Don't give me that look. We have already gone through this, and I do not want to talk about it," said Ivy dismissively.
"All you have done is avoid answering my questions."
"I will answer all your questions if you stop being so judgemental."
"How can I not be doubtful if you don't answer my questions."
"Let's not do this. Or this will end up going forever."
Hermione sighed. She fixed her Headgirl badge before boarding the train behind Ivy. They made their way to a compartment where Hermione unloaded her luggage and went away to the Prefect compartment, leaving Ivy alone in the compartment. Harry and Ron had gone to meet their friends after such a long time, leaving their shrunk luggage with Ivy.
Soon, the train jerked into motion and began moving. Ivy crossed her legs and turned her gaze outside as the scenery gradually left the urban behind, welcoming the vast expanse of the natural landscape. Her eyes remained glued on the scene. . . for the past two months, her only window to the outside had been the two-way mirror that she shared with Quinn, who carried it with him while outside, visiting places. She still remembered the view from the mirror when Quinn had floated it above the buildings to get an overhead shot, which then had turned into a tour through the narrow streets and even close-ups of many people engaged in their daily activities who couldn't see the presumably invisible mirror floating near them.
But even despite that, nothing beat watching with her own eyes, knowing that it was just a glass pane away. As she was blankly watching out, something entered her vision, piquing her attention.
She squinted to focus, "Is that a bird?"
It was indeed a bird. As the small dot flew close, the shape of broad wings became clear. With each flap, the black bird would come closer to the train until it was flying just beside it, moving in the same direction.
"A crow," Ivy muttered. It was the biggest of its kind she had seen. She was also surprised the bird was able to keep up the train that chugged forward at full speed, making her guess that it was a magical species of the crow family. "I don't remember studying about this particular one," Ivy tried to recall the identity but failed. "Maybe Hermione will know."
The crow flapped its wing in rapid succession and left Ivy's window behind, speeding ahead. Just when Ivy was about to return her focus from the bird, the crow did a surprising and unexpected happen— the bird pivoted back and faced the opposite. Ivy's confusion soon turned into surprise as first, the crow flew towards her suddenly, the glass pane too vanished as it never suggested. Ivy raised her hands to protect herself, but the next second, she felt the fluttering winds stop.
She peaked out from behind her eyes to see the black crow staring at her from the opposite seat. She hurriedly glanced at the glass pane, but it was intact and present. Ivy looked back at the crow— she gulped— the bird was larger than when she had seen it before. And as the bird was nearby, she could finally see that crow's black feathers had a purple shine that'd only turn visible at specific angles when the light would splash on them.
"How did you get in?" she asked, tilting her head, slightly scared because of the size.
The crow's response was something she didn't expect. The crow twisted and turned, and suddenly, Quinn was sitting in front of her.
"That was exciting, not going to lie," said Quinn, fixing his cuffs underneath his suit. He waved his hand, and the compartment door locked up.
"Quinn!" Ivy stood up and hugged him. He hugged her back and pulled her into a snog session that both sides craved. "How did you? You're an animagus?!"
"I have been a couple for a few years, a long but interesting story."
"You didn't tell me. I want to be an animagus as well."
"It didn't come up naturally. As for becoming an animagus, it's quite the lengthy to become an animagus— but if you want to, we can work on it. . . ah, we should've done it during the summer break. . . ah, but then you wouldn't have been able to complete it while locked inside. But whatever, we can think of something while you're in Hogwarts."
"My dad's an animagus. Sirius as well."
"Oh?" Quinn, of course, knew that. "That's neat. What form does he take?"
"Stag. You're a crow."
"Technically, a raven. But yeah."
"What do you think I'll become?"
"It's mostly the same as Patronus, so there are chances that you'll be a blue jay."
"Ah. . . blue jay is small."
"Believe me, smaller size for a bird form is better. You might not be able to fly in stronger winds, but in an ideal environment, smaller birds are great. I have been in many great flights in my animagus forms."
Ivy felt envious of the prospect of a new experience.
"Why are you here?" she asked. "I thought we agreed to meet outside of Hogwarts after I reach the castle."
"I missed you, so I came. The plans we had decided earlier are still on."
"Does Daphne know you're here?"
"Nope, I came only for you."
"Aww, how sweet." Ivy was still straddled upon Quinn and gave him a reward. "Hermione would blow up if she walked in upon us."
"She's still not happy?"
"No, she is not. But her pestering has gone down at least."
Quinn sighed, "I'm not popular with best friends. Both Tracey and Hermione aren't thrilled about our relationship."
"It bothers you that much?"
"Yes, it does," said Quinn, surprising Ivy. "They're the only two who know about our relationship, and both of them aren't supportive— it makes me wonder if anyone else would be."
Ivy didn't have an answer to it. She, too, wasn't worried about the same.
"Let's forget about it," Quinn smiled, "while it does bother me, it's not to a level where I'll lose any sleep."
"Mnmm," Ivy nodded.
"I heard there are professors and even Aurors onboard today," said Quinn. "They really want this to go well."
"I heard"— heard from an Order of Phoenix— "that Dumbledore wants Hogwarts to be seen as a safe place, and the Hogwarts Express getting safely to Hogsmeade is important for that. If any Death Eaters came, which they're expecting them to come, the professors and Aurors are going to retaliate in defense."
"I hope everything's peaceful."
"Are you going to help if they come?"
Quinn shook his head. "I'll defend as long as I can stay anonymous. If I reveal myself, my grandfather is going to get angry, and I don't want to anger him right now. He's prickly these days," said Quinn, pausing before continuing. "Please don't go out and try to actively fight them. I support self-defense, but don't pick a fight with them— leave that to the Aurors."
"Yes, yes," Ivy sighed, "I have heard that so many times in the last couple of days— mum's been harping on and on about it. If they're so worried about it, why can't they just let us come directly through Hogsmeade."
"It's a show of confidence. Hogwarts and even the Ministry can't have people thinking that they're scared of the Death Eaters by stopping a long-time tradition. It's risky because of the young children involved, but I see where they're coming from."
Ivy hummed, "They want to keep up the traditions, but they moved Ollivander out of the shop."
That caught Quinn's attention as he asked, "I am curious, what's going on with the wand situation?"
"The first years don't have their wands yet. Mum said that Ollivander and his shop are going to be present at Hogwarts, and the first years are going to get their wands in the school itself."
". . . I see this becoming the norm."
"I think so too. Someone in the Ministry will think that it's safer for the children to have their wands when they enter Hogwarts, and then somehow it'll become part of the sorting ceremony."
"You know. . . that actually sounds cool, but I wouldn't want it to happen. Parents need to get used to their kids having a wand— and the time before Hogwarts where kids can't do much with them is the perfect time for that purpose."
"Tell that to Hermione's parents," Ivy giggled. "They told me that Hermione almost broke everything in her room."
"What about you? I'm sure you weren't any less."
"Please," Ivy rolled her eyes, "I had mum with me— she would allow me my wand one hour in the morning and one in the evening." She narrowed her eyes, "You got to do magic without care, didn't you, you spoiled brat."
"Spoiled brat?" Quinn quirked his brow playfully. "I was anything but spoiled. I will have you know I did my chores and completed my tasks before I could do use magic," he said proudly, puffing up his chest.
"Aren't you a good boy," said Ivy, her voice a bit husky.
"I am," Quinn nodded deeply.
"Then let me give you a reward," she said and leaned forward.
But before they could get into another snogging session, a loud explosion disturbed them. Both of them looked outside the window, and they saw black trails flying through the sky— looking closely, they saw people inside, flying on brooms.
"They came," he sighed.
"They did," Ivy got up from Quinn. "What are you going to do?"
Quinn stood up and stared out of the window. He saw a flying Death Eater shoot a spell towards the train, but it was deflected by a shield spell, thus crashing into the ground, exploding the mud and grass that did hit the train.
". . . I'm going to go to the roof in case a spell slips past the Aurors and professors. I'm sure the train has its own enchantments, but prevention is better than cure."
Quinn turned away from the window and pulled Ivy into another kiss before saying, "I'll see you in a couple of days. We will go out then."
"Be safe," she said.
"I will. Have your wand at ready— in the immortal words of Mad-Eye Moody—"
"Constant Vigilance," Ivy sighed again. She had heard that phrase so much during the summer that her ears bled.
Quinn laughed.
He snapped his fingers and turned invisible. Next, the window again vanished from its frame before it returned again, and Ivy could tell that Quinn wasn't in the room.
At that moment, the door rattled. Ivy unlocked it and let in Hermione, Harry, and Ron inside.
"Did you see it?" asked Harry.
"I did."
"What should we do?"
Ivy took out her wand. "We stay ready and wait. If they come inside, we teach them a lesson."
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Quinn West - MC - I hitch-hicked to get a ride with my girlfriend.
Ivy Potter - Potter Twin - Likes exciting situations.
FictionOnlyReader - Author - Corporate sucks!
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