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Author: Windsong Story: The Thorn in the Sand Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Reviews: 1 Words: 21,485
Holly would never admit it to anybody, but she felt a thankful relief at getting away from the Muggle side of King’s Cross station. The constant metallic, mechanical noises had ceased the instant they passed the barrier, to be replaced by the natural, organic sounds of her world. Even the train itself seemed alive somehow, smoke from the engine mingling with wisps of steam escaping from the carriages, unlike the antiseptic, whirring boxes on the Muggle platforms. She could hear owls hooting, and pet cats mewling, in among the excited laughter of children. Groups of adults were scattered around the platform, chattering happily. It was more like a social gathering for a fete on the village green, than the start of a journey. It even smelt like the village green, thanks to all the animals, while the Muggle side had smelt of… impatience. She had released Simon’s hand in order to pass her owl up to her father, who was stowing their luggage away on the train. As she turned to rejoin the rest of her party, she was swept up into the air and swung around in a bone-crushing grip. Holly’s squeak of surprise turned to a squeal of delight once she had registered the freckles, long red hair, long arms, long nose, and general all-over long-ness of her assailant. As eleven-year-old boys went, this was a giant, dwarfing even Simon’s sturdy frame. As the new boy started to rattle off questions, seemingly without the need to pause for breath, Holly noticed an air of wary surprise appear on Simon’s face. “How’s my favourite girl, then? Have you just arrived? We’ve been here ages! Was that an owl you were putting on the train? Shall we share a compartment?” As Holly was being lowered back to the ground, she thought “Favourite girl… Uh-Oh!” Time to make sure there were no misunderstandings. “Come and meet some new friends of mine,” she wheezed, all the breath having been squeezed out of her. She waved towards the twins. “This is Chelsea Mayer and her brother Simon. We met when we were all shopping in Diagon Alley. They’re Muggle-born and really nice.” She patted the newcomer on the arm. “Simon, Chelsea, meet my cousin,” she put the slightest emphasis on the word, “and partner-in-crime since we were toddlers, Brian Weasley.” She aimed a smirk at Brian. “Chelsea has decided that Simon should be my boyfriend!” She moved to Simon’s side, slipped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. Brian Weasley beamed at Chelsea. “Has she now! Can she find me a girlfriend, too?” He bowed to Simon. “You have my sympathy, mate. Not only does Holly have all the Potter genius for getting into trouble, she has more than her fair share of the legendary female Weasley temper to go with it!” Before Holly could come up with a suitable retort, Brian turned his beaming smile towards her mother. “Oh, hello, Aunty Ginny! I didn’t see you there.” * * * Brian’s exuberant greeting had not gone unnoticed. Holly could almost feel the heads turning, and the curious stares begin. Her sharp hearing picked up a few comments. “Another Potter.” “Is that the youngest?” I wonder what she’s like?” And finally, a dismissive “Huh!” Holly tracked the “Huh” down to a haughty looking family a few yards down the platform. All she had time to notice were immaculate, expensive-looking travelling robes before a dark-haired young girl was pulled away by her ramrod-backed father. “Come, Iris,” he barked, “let us find you a carriage with some more suitable travelling companions.” Her own father stepped down from the train in time to watch this family group moving away towards a group of older children wearing Slytherin scarves. “Well, well,” he said “Aurelius Parkinson with his latest daughter. I hadn’t realised she would be starting at Hogwarts now.” Ginny had slipped her arm through Harry’s. “You have to admire his perseverance. He must be approaching eighty now, and that’s wife number four with daughter number six. And still not a son and heir in sight.” Holly had no time to think about the Parkinson family. Brian had been followed, rather more sedately, by an impressive delegation of Weasleys. There were Uncle Ron and Aunty Hermione, with Granny, Granddad and Uncles Fred and George bringing up the rear. A hectic whirl of introductions followed, until it was cut short by the train whistle blowing, and Porters shouting “All aboard!” As the children scrambled up onto the train, Holly felt a small parcel being pressed into her hand by Uncle Fred. “Use it wisely,” he advised with a solemn wink. “And send us a toilet seat!” shouted Uncle George, throwing a similar parcel through the open window to Brian. Holly could hear Granny explode, “Fred, George! What have you given them?” even over the noise of the train pulling away. Holly hung out of the window, waving goodbye to her family for as long as she could see them. Finally she pulled her head in, and shut the window with a bang. She was on her way, at last. * * * The corridor was still crowded with children, looking for friends or empty seats. With many a polite “excuse me,” and “thank you”, Holly made her way to the compartment containing Brian and the Mayer twins. Simon sprang to his feet as she entered, and handed her down into an empty seat, shooting a pointed glance at Brian as he did so. Brian sprawled out comfortably on the seat opposite them. He leaned in towards Chelsea to address her in a stage whisper, “Does your brother see me as a rival for Holly’s affections, do you think?” “Probably,” Chelsea whispered back. “Simon’s never had a girlfriend before, and he doesn’t know the rules yet.” Holly felt her face flame, and thought Chelsea was far too ready to join in this teasing game! Brian aimed an amiable wink at Simon. “We’re only joking, mate. Holly and me go way back, but we’re more like brother and sister than cousins, and you wouldn’t fancy your own sister, would you?” Holly had had enough of being discussed as if she wasn’t there. “Oi! Don’t I get any say in all this? I love you like a brother, Brian, but I want to be Simon’s girlfriend, all right!” Brian turned to Simon with a delighted grin. “And there you have Holly Potter in a nutshell, mate. Pretty as a picture, and a temper like a Hippogriff with bunions! Do you think you can handle her?” Simon wrapped an arm around Holly. He seemed to be relaxed and happy again, and Holly couldn’t help herself snuggling contentedly against him. “I reckon it’s worth a try,” he murmured close to her ear. * * * Aunty Hermione had always said that the journey on the Hogwarts Express was ‘An integral part of the whole Hogwarts Experience’, but even with all her nagging, Holly knew her parents would never have let her go on the train if they hadn’t met the Mayer’s. Holly was content to lie back against Simon, and watch the people continue to pass back and forth along the corridor outside their compartment. It slowly dawned upon them all that they kept seeing the same faces passing by, and the glances inside their compartment were turning into curious stares. Brian eventually got rid of the onlookers by alternately staring back at them and pointing excitedly, or beckoning them to come in with his huge beaming smile. He confided in Simon with a sad smile, “You’ll have to get used to this sort of thing if you go out with Holly. Anything her family does is front page news, even now.” Holly snorted derisively. “That’s just for Mum and Dad; and Hope, I suppose. There’s nothing newsworthy about me!” “No?” Brian raised an eyebrow. “So why did three reporters and a cameraman Apparate in when we got stuck up that Oak tree when we were five? Believe me, they wouldn’t have come for me, that’s for sure.” Chelsea patted Brian’s hand. “Come on,” she said, “Holly avoided the question when I asked her about her family. Will you tell me why they’re famous?” Holly noticed that Chelsea’s hand remained on Brian’s as he started answering. “OK. Potted history. Holly’s parents fought against the most evil wizard there has ever been while they were at school. He was called Lord Voldemort. Albus Dumbledore, who was Headmaster at the time, persuaded them to have a baby, because of an ancient prophecy. Hope was that child, and Dumbledore used her magic to destroy Voldemort, sacrificing himself at the same time. A tale of derring-do, young love and adventure that has gripped the wizarding world for over twenty years now.” He smiled fondly at Holly. “Even though it has nothing to do with Holly, she’s still a Potter. Hence all the staring. The Potter legend lives on, and Holly is the new torch bearer!” Holly grimaced. “Well, this torch bearer is getting hungry. Any sign of the food trolley yet?” * * * They didn’t have long to wait until the trolley put in an appearance, and the four youngsters crowded into the doorway to make their choices. Chelsea turned towards Holly, a puzzled frown on her face. Comprehension dawned immediately on Holly. Obviously her new friends didn’t recognize anything! They were seeing wizarding foods for the first time. Holly pushed to the front, pulling out her moneybag. “My treat,” she called, ordering a selection of goodies from the elderly witch in charge of the trolley. Simon and Chelsea had both sniffed rather suspiciously at the Pumpkin Pasties, but they seemed to enjoy them once they got started. Liquorice wands hadn’t caused them any surprises, and Droobles had earned appreciative sighs. It was their reaction to the chocolate frogs that really surprised Holly! Chelsea had hardly glanced at the card of Nicholas Flamel before taking a tentative bite of the rich, dark chocolate. Her eyes then flew wide open with surprise, before slowly closing to the accompaniment of a long drawn out “Mmmmmm” of pure rapture. Finally her eyes opened again, and she found her voice. “I’ve just died, and gone to chocolate heaven. Bury me in a Chocolate Frog!” Brian snorted derisively. “They’re only Chocolate Frogs! Honeydukes do loads of chocolate much better than that.” Half a second later, he was pinned back against his seat, with Chelsea gripping his shirtfront fiercely. “There’s something better than this? Lead me to this chocolate of which you speak, and I will have your babies!” Holly laughed out loud. “Chelsea’s mum is an actress,” she confided in a bemused looking Brian, “I think she gets all her lines from her Mum’s scripts. You’ll get used to her jokes.” Chelsea batted her eyelids at Brian. “Who’s joking?” she murmured, before taking a further bite from her chocolate frog. Holly couldn’t help herself laughing again as her friend sank back into her seat with another rapturous sigh. This earned her a stern stare from Chelsea. “What’s so funny? I like chocolate, OK?” “I’d never have guessed!” Holly spluttered back. * * * Holly had imagined her arrival at Hogwarts a thousand times. But now, as she joined the throng of first-years milling around the Hogsmeade station platform, she was filled with nerves. She wanted to be nothing more than an anonymous face in the crowd, but that was difficult with Brian around. Standing head and shoulders taller than any other first-year, his red hair shining like a beacon in the lamplight, and his excited voice carrying over the throng, made him a focus of attention. Some of that attention soon switched onto Holly as she was recognised by more and more people. It only intensified when Hagrid appeared, booming “Firs’ years! All firs’ years this way.” Hagrid leaned down towards Holly. “Don’t be a stranger now you’re gettin’ all grown up, Holly. Come and visit me when you’re settled in.” Holly just nodded mutely, hoping that her blushing face wouldn’t be noticed in the darkness. “Gee thanks, Hagrid” she thought bitterly, “just make me into teacher’s pet before I’ve even got through the doors, why don’t you?” Adults could be so thoughtless sometimes. Things went downhill fast for Holly from that point on. The magical journey across the lake she had been so looking forward to turned into a nightmare of mishaps and embarrassment. First she stumbled on the path down to the boats, scraping her shin on a sharp rock as she fell to her knees. She heard fabric tear as she bit back the pain from the cut on her leg. She was not going to cry – she absolutely wasn’t! Then she missed her footing getting out of the boat – or had she felt the slightest push in her back? Either way, the net effect was that she ended up in ten inches of water. She heard Iris Parkinson giggling, “Ooh, look. Princess Potter’s got all wet!” Hobbling, with torn, mud-spattered robes, and dripping blood and lake water all over the entrance, a seething Holly Potter arrived at Hogwarts.
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