The Return of the Dark Witch

P.O.V – Becky Sinclair

“So you just run straight at the wall there…”Explained Mrs. Figg for the hundredth time as I nervously clung to my trolley cart. My palms dripping with sweat. My eyes zeroed in on the brick wall in front of me, “Really girl, do I need to go over this again for you?” Snapped Mrs. Figg, causing my gaze to briefly turn to her, blood draining out of my face.

“Please do.” I requested, my voice shaky, barely acknowledging the frustrated look she gave me, as I turned my head back to face the wall.

She began again, “So here, idiot girl, you run at the wall…”

I tuned her out, my heart pounding furiously in my chest.

It’s unbelievable, that what it is. I thought rapidly. Running into a wall and expecting to appear somewhere else. More likely that I’ll crash, my two, small, bags will fly off in different directions, I’ll end up with an concussion, and there will be a huge scene.

Credit to my imagination though. Surely no real witch or wizard would have been idiotic enough to think something like this up. Running through a wall…hah!

“And once you pass through it, there will be nine and three quarters.” Finished Mrs. Figg again, as I saw her walk closer to me out of the corner of my eye, “Do I need to give you a push?” She asked irritably, causing me to look up at her furious face.

I began to nod slowly, when a dark flash caught the corner of my eye . Sirius? I turned my head quickly to watch the form disappear through the wall. My eyes widened, only one thought on my mind, as I abruptly began running after it.

Wall? What wall? I thought briefly, closing my eyes I neared the crash zone. But the impact never came.

Carefully, I opened my eyes. I seemed to be in another part of the train station. Sirius was nowhere to be seen, but there was hundreds upon hundreds of kids, all ages, with their tearful parents.

I frowned, as I saw a snowy white owl riding a top of a boy’s cart.

An owl? What kind of place had I got myself into too? I know Mrs. Lankins mentioned them, but…I...I never really believed her.

I looked away from the boy and his owl, and towards a great scarlet train up ahead. A sign above it said, Hogwarts Express.

My eyes widened. It was real? But…no, wait, huh?

I turned around to see a wrought ironed archway where the wall had been, with the words, Platform Nine and Three Quarters, written on it.

Well, what do you know? I turned back, swallowing hard, a feeling of intimidation passing over me, as I stared at the hoards of people in front of me.

After years spent in isolation, it was quite a sight.

Taking a deep breath, I began to push my trolley forward. Ignoring the few strange looks I received for my ‘lack of’ baggage.

Hey, I’m just gratefully for what Mrs. Lankins and the school could provide me. Unfortunately, being an orphan and spending three years in an insane asylum, didn’t provide me with much money, or uh, galleons.

Huffing, I worked to part the crowd in front of me, an act that reminded me a lot of war. I thought, as I was brutally shoved to the side by a pug faced girl, as she ran through the cowd.

Idiot. I thought aggravated, as I righted myself.

Watching as she seemed to reach her destination, a tall, slender, boy with silvery blonde hair, and flung her arms around his neck. Much to his, at least it appeared to be, chagrin.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, as he slowly removed himself from her.

That’s what you get, witch. I thought viciously as I continued forward.

The pair stepping up and into the train, a woman, who could only be the guy’s mother, waving him a tearful goodbye.

Oh, wait. Brief clarity breaking into my thoughts, as I let go off my trolley and walked around it to grab my bags. Witch, witches, I’m one, she’s one. Yeah, I need to update my insults.

Sighing, I lifted my bricklike bags, and began to walk forward, towards to the train’s steps. When I felt eyes boring into the back of my head. I turned around to see the guy’s mother staring at me. A combined look of horror and shock on her face. I frowned, rolling my eyes, and continued onto the train.

Guess she had never seen a girl with such little baggage before, I thought, as I began to push my way past, yet more students, and down the hall of the train.

Most of the first carriages were full, of course, and being new, I had absolutely no idea where to sit. I know, at the orphanage, there was a pecking order, and I didn’t want to get caught in the wrong part of one here.

My arms began to droop, as I lugged my bags towards the back end of the train. Where a great commotion seemed to be going on.

A horde of girls, all ages, but mostly older, seemed to be gathered around one compartment in particular, though none of them made a direct move towards it.

“You ask him!”

“No, you!”

“I’ll do it!” Said one girl finally, a bold look on her face as she stepped forward and opened the compartment door, walking inside.

I moved closer.

“What’s going on?” I asked one of the girl’s, a petite blonde with a rather sharp nose, as I let my bags fall to the ground with a thump.

She turned to look at me, an astonished look on her face, “Don’t you know? Harry Potter’s in there!” She squealed excitedly, before turning back to the compartment.

I quirked an eyebrow at her. Stuck between feeling sorry for the guy and wanting to get a good look at him myself. After all, maybe he liked the attention? And I had just gone out of my way to find him myself yesterday...

Unable to help myself, I turned to face the compartment, watching as the bold girl slowly exited it, sliding the door back into place behind her. A stunned look on her face.

“He didn’t want to join us.” She said disappointedly.

The horde of girls made collective dismayed sounds at her words.

I withheld a laugh. This Harry must either be gay or actually have character to refuse this group. Either that, or guys have changed since I last saw one.

Hurriedly, I collected my bags off the floor, as the disappointed group of girls stampeded towards me, in a rush to get to return to their own compartments.

“No, really,” I began sarcastically, flinging myself against the wall to avoid being trampled, “Let’s all rush on by. I’m not here, really.” A girl stepped on my left foot, “That’s it,” I began, caressing it slightly with my right one, “You’ve got the idea.”

Moments later, the last of them finally passed by, a stumpy brown haired girl.

I sighed, dropping my bags once again, as I bent down to readjust myself.

Yep, what a great first day. I can now, officially, say I’ve participated in the Running of the Bulls.

“Are you looking for a compartment?” I heard a girl’s voice ask.

I looked up to see a tall girl with an extraordinarily bushy hair, brown eyes, and a very authoritative aura about her. A large letter, P, gleaming off her black robes.

I straightened, “Um..” I began, what the heck did P stand for?

She cocked her head, a frown forming on her face, “I don’t think I’ve seen you before and you’re too old to be a first year.” She began, a shrill edge to her voice, “Who are you exactly?”

I swallowed nervously, stepping towards her and stretching out my hand, “Becky Sinclair.” I paused, “I’m new here.” I paused again at her unchanging expression, “My magic ability came late.” I finished awkwardly, withdrawing my hand.

Her face lit up, “Oh, really? That’s fascinating!” She rambled, “I remember reading about that somewhere. I..”

“Oh, leave the girl alone, Hermione.” Said a tall lanky red haired boy exasperatedly, coming up behind her. A large P also gleaming off his robes, “Hi,” He began, turning towards me, his former annoyance, giving way to a large smile, “I’m Ron Weasley.” He stretched out his hand, “You are?”

I couldn’t help it, I smiled back, relieved, as I shook his hand, “Becky Sinclair. New student.”

I began to withdraw my hand, to no avail.

“Um…” I began, watching as Hermione elbowed him hard in the stomach, forcing him to release me.

“Ow, Hermione!” He said, clutching his stomach, while she glared at him for a moment, before looking back at me.

“You can sit with us if you like.” Said Hermione, “We were just going to our compartment.”

My eyes widened, “Really?” She nodded, “Oh thank goodness!” I said, the feeling of relief making its way into my voice, causing them to laugh.

“It’s this way.” Said Hermione, recovering first, walking around me as I bent down to pick up my bags.

“Here, I’ll carry those.” Said Ron, stepping forward and snatching them out from under me, “What have you got in here? Bricks?” He asked, huffing as he lifted them up, and followed Hermione.

I laughed, turning around just in time to watch them both enter Harry Potter’s compartment.

My heart stopped.