Chapter Text
“Do you think the spells we’ll learn will be hard?”
Pepa Madrigal pushed the cart, filled with her belongings and whispered to her sister Julieta. Her mother, Alma Madrigal was trailing behind them, head up high as they walked to the platform.
“No idea, I did some reading before school started though.”
“Pepa.”
The eleven year old girl turned her head as she heard her mother calling after her. Alma beckoned her over, and straightened out her black dress robes, brushing off the non-existent dust off her shoulders.
“Remember Pepa-”, she started. “We are the Madrigals, that means I want the absolute best out of you. One step out of line, and you will get it. You hear me?”
Pepa gulped, remembering that nasty spell her mother used on her when she wasn’t at the best.
“Yes mama.”
Alma nodded her head, gesturing towards the wall.
Pepa could feel Julieta squeeze her hand, before she rushed forward. Pepa took a few deep breaths, warming herself up before pushing through the magical brick wall.
The other side was completely different, the platform was filled with families alike that Pepa hasn’t seen before. Usually she was near the noble 16, the families that her mother usually called over to their house for meetings.
Pepa noticed that her mother scowled at some of- no, most of them as she pushed Julieta’s back to make her go faster. Even she could see that Julieta was nervous. The Hogwarts Express was there, steam coming out as students were piling in.
“Look over there, it’s the Noble House Of The Madrigals.”
“Looking pretty arrogant are they?”
“I hear they work for you-know-who”
“Dignified, my mom always tells stories of them back at home”
Pepa tried to drown out the comments she heard by humming a song she knew. Her grip on the trolley tightened even more as she bit her lip. She didn’t know any of these students. Where was her brother?
As if on cue, a small group of people appeared right in front of them. They probably apparated here.
Pepa grinned widely at the sight of her brother. She hasn’t seen Bruno for ages. Alma had sent Bruno off to live with their uncle, saying something about living up to be the next heir of the family.
But Pepa’s smile fell slightly at how Bruno looked. He still looked as dignified as ever, looking more mature than his age as he wore the deep green suit. Pepa noticed that he looked even skinner, and that his eyebags had become more prominent.
Pepa took a step forward hesitantly, and wrapped her arms around him for a hug, followed by Julieta.
Bruno hesitantly patted Julieta’s back and pushed the two off him slightly. Pepa stumbled back slightly. Bruno loved her hugs.
“People are watching.”
Pepa didn’t know what to say to that, and she just kept quiet as their house elf helped to put their belongings on the train.
Pepa could feel herself becoming more nervous. None of them looks like they’re hiding some animalistic secret. She was starting to doubt what her mother always said about her condition.
She was going to talk with Bruno once more when she realised that he was gone. Julieta was busy talking with Alma and so Pepa walked around, looking at the other families.
She was searching for an empty carriage when she realised that someone was staring at her from the inside. It was a boy, like a really short boy around her age. He had a dark skin tone, and his hair was messed up all over the place, like someone had tried to comb his hair. But clearly it ended in chaos.
Seeing Pepa staring, the boy nudged his head in a direction, eyes filled with that smugness that Pepa wanted to snicker at.
Pepa looked around, making sure no one was looking before crossing her eyes, flipping him off with one hand. Pepa could see that the boy was laughing and laughed at herself.
“Pepa, what are you doing? Get over here this instant.”
Pepa could feel Alma grab her by the shoulders and pull her away from the window, seeing the boy’s eyes follow her as she gave him a smile.
Pepa saw Julieta standing beside Alma, all prim and proper, her hair set, her dress ironed. Alma gripped Pepa’s shoulders hard, and then gave her a small smile.
“Remember what I told you.”
Pepa nodded and went over to Julieta whose eyes were shining with excitement. Who wouldn’t be? After being surrounded by purebloods all their lives, this was a nicer change of tone.
“Mama wants us to sit with the Slytherins, as per custom.”
Pepa rolled her eyes as they walked to the other side. Pulling Julieta by the elbow, she went near the back of the trains, far away from the Slytherins.
“Now this is better.”
The atmosphere was much more fun, less dark and more rowdy as students ran along the corridors.
They both found an empty carriage sitting down. Julieta looked out the window and waved to Alma, who waved back, her face still stoic as ever, her pose straight. Classic madrigal style.
The train began to sped up, and soon the scenery from the platform turned to large patches of land with trees, the buildings far behind.
There was a knock on the door, and the door slid open, revealing a tall boy, he was dressed up smartly, his blazer suited him. Pepa saw Julieta’s eyes light up as she stood up.
“Agustin!”
The two exchanged a hug as Pepa looked away.
“I saw Bruno walking just now, so I’d figured you be here- Oh hello..”
Pepa nodded in his direction and waved. Agustin was a friend of Julieta, although the two haven’t met in a really long time because Agustin was sent to a boarding school for a while when he was seven.
“Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full.”
Agustin rubbed the back of his hair nervously. Julieta scoffed and moved aside, making space for him. Pepa could tell he was taking her in, looking at her unkempt hair, the velvet dress she was made to wear.
“We’re all first years? I thought you were a few years younger than us.” Pepa noted. She remembered Agustin being a bit younger than her and Julieta.
“Well, my parents wanted me to be admitted early, so here I am.”
“Well.”, Pepa sat up straight, placing her hand out. “I’m Pepa”
Agustin cleared his throat and shook Pepa’s hand firmly, his glasses showing his brown eyes.
“You’re Julieta’s sister? Didn’t know Julieta had sisters.”
Pepa shot a look at Julieta who coincidentally was staring at a very interesting spot on the ceiling. Of course she wasn’t mentioned.
“Sister and brother, you know Bruno.”
“Not really-”, Agustin replied, “I never really talked to him, I just figured out you two are related because everyone knows he's the heir of the Madrigals.”
Pepa and Julieta shared a look that said more that could be said in words. Over the years, their relationship with their brother had strained.
“I’m Agustin.”
“Knew that.”
The trio laughed as they chatted a bit, the scenery changing to the dense forest, a far cry from the busy city.
“Know what house you’ll be in?”
Pepa slouched in her seat and propped her legs up. “No idea, Mama expects me to be in Slytherin though.”
Juliea huffed as she stared back. “I think I’ll be in Ravenclaw.”
Agustin scrunched up his nose in disgust, “Ravenclaw? I know you’re smart, but I heard they’re a snobbish bunch.”
“I’d probably be dead if I’m in Ravenclaw.” Pepa said forlornly. “Well at least it isn’t bloody Gryffindor. I think mama would kill me if I ended up there. Imagine!”, Pepa said, holding up 9 fingers. “Nine generations! And not one of them ended up in Gryffindor!”
Agustin awkwardly patted Pepa’s hand. “It’s tough on you buddy, I get it. At least my parents don’t hassle me for these kinds of things. My mom is usually too confused about all the magic things.”
Pepa sat up. “You’re half-blood?”
Agustin nodded as he took a folded photo from his pocket, showing his family. “My mom is a muggle, my dad is a halfblood himself. Gave my mama a real shocker when he proposed with the secret. My sister is a first year student too! Although I think she’s sitting somewhere else.”
“Oh quit it Pepa,” Julieta chastised her sister, whose jaw was wide open at the information. “Not like it matters anyway right?”
There was a rhythmic knocking again, like a happy tune as the door opened again, revealing the same boy Pepa saw at the train station.
“Who are you?” Pepa drawled on, flipping her hair so it landed over her shoulder, her green eyes piercing his.
“Felix Castillo. Pleasure”, Felix said with a toothy grin.
“Castillo.. ” Pepa stood up, letting out an arm. “Great! Mama told me to stay away from kids like you.”