Chapter Text
It was pouring, the raindrops drumming against the metal sides of the train cars as the black smoke from the engine joined the dark clouds above. It was just like any other day in London for most people. But then again the passengers on the train were not most people. Inside the train students were buzzing with excitement for a new school year, readying their cloaks and biting down on Caldron Cakes as the green grass of the countryside whizzed by them.
As the young girl sat on the train, she realized she was leaving her past life behind her. Leaving all she had known, just to try and find who she really was. So, as she rattled down the tracks, and sat alone in her cabin, she wondered if she really would figure out who she really was inside, and if that girl that she’d kept hidden for so long would be allowed to blossom at her new home. She hoped Hogwarts would come to be the warm, inviting place her cousin had claimed it to be.
It was dark that day, fitting for the transition into the unknown she thought. She was not surprised that no-one had chosen to join her in her cabin. After all, she had just transferred from Beauxbatons, spoke with an accent, would be going into 5th year and was yet to be spoken. She was sure the accent had the least to do with it, but the reaction of a short ginger girl to her speaking gave her less confidence that her accent would be more appreciated than criticized. Her expectations were broken when two boys walked by her open door, paused and poked their heads in to look at her.
“Hello” they bother said in unison. “Who might you be?” one asked. “And why are you alone?” asked the other. The girl looked up, raising a brow and looking at the two. She was immediately struck by their resemblance, and then by their bright ginger hair. Her mouth twitched in a smile as she nodded to them, her manners getting the best of her. “I am Josephine Desmarais, it’s a pleasure to meet you. “ She struggled through her accent, trying to sound clear enough for them to understand her as much as, and criticize her as little as, possible. They looked at each other.
“Oi, she’s a transfer isn’t she?” One said to the other. “Seems like it, and from somewhere along the Seine it appears.” As he responded, he plopped down on the seat across from her, crossing his arms and grinning, the other following suit. Josephine turned a bit pink, not used to people being so up front and relaxed during a first greeting. She awkwardly tugged down her skirt, afraid they would notice the curves of her stomach and legs. She wished she would of wore baggier clothes. Now, she didn’t think they would be attracted to her; it was that Josephine was not the thinnest girl in the world, and she tended to get quite a bit of grief about it from her mother’s family and her past classmates. She was never really confident in her looks, mostly because of her mother’s beauty and the large population of Veela blooded witches at Beauxbatons. She thought herself plain when she glanced in the glass of the window her “pondi blue” as her mother called them, eyes set into pale skin staring back at her from under sharp strait light brown bangs. Her short and flipped out hair swung as she turned her head to look at them, taking her bottom lip between her teeth and chewing on it. They just grinned at her, a sparkle in their eye. It was devious, cunning, and something she never saw before.
“He’s Fred.” One said, nodding to the other, who spoke in unison “He’s George”, and they both finished with a proud “Weasley” and a nod. She couldn’t help but crack a smile, looking them over. They were completely identically in appearance, maybe a little different around the eyes. But besides that, everything was the same. From their shaggy ginger hair, their freckled skin, their wide shoulders, long legs, nose, lips and everything in between, they were identical. “It’s a pleasure.” She said softly, darting her gaze back and forth between theirs. “So where you from?” “And why are you here?” they asked. She furrowed her brow at their curiosity. “Uhm...Chateauroux actually, and I’m transferring from Beauxbatons Academy. My cousin is a Hogwarts student, a Ravenclaw I believe, and his talk of the school made me want to attend.” Be polite Josephine, she told herself, or else they might not like you, her mother’s voice echoed in her ear. “Cool.” They both said together. “But you have to be sorted into Gryffindor” said one, his voice slightly higher than his brothers. “Or else your life will be utterly pathetic.” She tilted her head. “And why is that?” She questioned, half knowing the answer. “Cause you’d be in our house of course.” They said matter -of -factly. She laughed, shaking her head a bit. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
They grinned at her, and she felt her cheeks heat up a built. She still didn’t quite understand why they were talking to her, but she was glad they were. She had never really met anyone like them before, but she very much enjoyed their personality. They were charming, confident, and utterly amusing. The devious glint in their eyes made her feel warm, like she was going to belong. As her nerves faded, the train jerked to a stop, sending her falling off the seat and onto her knee’s as the lights flickered off.
“Merde….what was that?” she muttered, forgetting herself and allowing her French to slip through. Getting herself to her feet, she leaned herself out of the doorway, looking down the hallway at the faces of other students. Pulling her wand out of her jacket pocket, she lit up the hallway trying to tell exactly what may be going on. But as the train car rocked, she tumbled backwards into one of them as he fell onto the seat, resulting in her falling over his lap as her wand bounced to the floor and the light went out.
“Sorry, sorry, I’m so sorry…” she said quickly, righting herself and running her fingers through her hair. “Well it’s not your fault now is it?” said the one she had landed on, a laugh to his voice. “Unless you can control the train!” chimed the other. She smiled shyly, picking up the 6’’ Cherry wood wand, and placing it into her bag.
Minutes later, the lights flickered back on and the train began to move again. “You should change into your robes.” Said one. “Unless you want to be sorted in that.” Said the other. “We surely wouldn’t mind. “ They winked at her and left with that, closing the door behind them. She flushed, and stood to close the blinds of the cabin, glancing down the hallway to watch them disappear into a cabin four doors down. Shutting the blinds, she changed into her Hogwarts uniform, making sure she looked just right. She was going to make this work. She was going to be happy, she was sure of it.
Stepping onto the platform, she traced the swirls on her wand in her pocket to ease her nerves, looking around at all the kids her age heading towards a group of carriages while the first years gathered around a very large and wild looking man. She didn’t know what to do, and she started to panic a little. Suddenly a hand tapped her arm. “Miss Desmarais?” a very small man with glasses asked from below her. “Oui, that is me.” She answered. “Follow me.” He said, leading her towards the front of the carriages. She boarded the carriage after him, and it immediately took off, leaving the rest behind her. “The Headmaster has asked that we take you a few minutes ahead of the other students so you could be briefly filled in on how things will work with your case. “ Said the man, peering at her over his glasses. She nodded, her hair bouncing. “Of course, I understand. From what I can tell this doesn’t happen very often”
They reached the castle in minutes, the stone walls rising above her, taking her breath away as her heart soared with excitement. Stepping out of the carriage, Josephine followed the small man through a set of very large doors. Her mind could not keep up with her eyes as they darted everywhere, taking in everything they possibly could. She was led into a small secluded room, in which very harsh looking women stood in flowing green robes that stared at her through spectacles. Josephine had the urge to curtsy to the woman for good measure, but decided against it. The man left the room, heading through two great doors that she only saw a glimpse of light through, accompanied by a low roar of voices.
“Miss Desmarias I assume?” The woman asked, looking at her expectantly. Her voice was kinder than her appearance. “Yes madam.” Josephine answered, her voice soft and shaking. “I would like to tell you how today is going to go. Since you have changed schools, you are lucky that most schools of our nature center around the same curriculum, meaning you will be merged with the rest of the 5th year students. But you will need to be sorted, and you will need to select your extra classes. Now, you will be sorted first, before the first years. Once you are sorted you will need to go join your house. After dinner tonight I would like to see you in my classroom, classroom 1B to choose your classes. Is that understood Miss Desmarias?” The woman spoke very sternly, looking at her as she spoke. “Y…Yes madam.” Josie said, clearing her throat. The woman’s gaze softened as she looked over Josephine. “Do not have fear child, you will be fine. If the Headmaster has allowed you to transfer here, then he has faith in you.” The woman’s words gave her comfort, and Josephine smiled softly. “Thank you madam.”
As the first years filed into the room behind her, the woman gestured for Josephine to step closer to her, ahead of the rest of them. Looking down on the small faces of the new arrivals, she felt at ease. She realized that she was not the only one who was starting something new, that everyone who was at Hogwarts had once been standing where she is now, even the stern woman next to her. But as Professor McGonagall, as she introduced herself, gave the first years the opening speech, she felt the fingers of anxiety tightening on her throat. But she shook them off, standing up straight and placing a small smile on her face. “I am going to be okay.” She told herself as she bounced on her toes. “As long as I am myself, I will be okay. Just be yourself.” It echoed through her mind, the last words her father had spoken to her before she boarded the train. Just be yourself. As the doors to the Great Hall opened, she vowed that she would be herself, and only herself now that her feet were not pinched into tight heeled shoes and satin blue socks.