Chapter 3 0.2: The Beginning Of The Journey

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to each other in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

"Remember child, you must reside in the house of Salazar Slytherin" Elizabeth spoke sternly to her distracted daughter.

"Yes," Cassiopeia replied, rolling her eyes.

"Keep your hair natural, get perfect marks, be respectful, and don't befriend mud blood and blood traitors" Her mother listed, with a firm grip on her arm that is bound to leave a mark.

"If you're done, I would like to send my goodbyes to Archie, alone" Cassiopeia replied, emphasizing the last word.

"Fine, don't corrupt him with your filthy moronic ways " sneered her mother. And with that, her mother strutted away, with her robes sashaying behind her as she went to sweet talk some wizard.

Cassiopeia knelt to her brother's height, who thankfully missed the entire conversation due to being distracted by the bright red train.

"Archie" she began, tears building up, "I'll miss you"

"Why do you have to go sœur aînée?" Her little brother whined, slightly pouting

"I know, but in a few years you'll come here to"

"Ok sœur aînée"

"Remember whatever she tells you, follow it and tell me afterward"

"Why?"

"No reason, just want to make sure my little brother is a-okay"

And with that, the strong brother and sister duo shot into each other's arms, it will be a couple of months till they see each other again. Her brother had returned to her mother, while Cassiopeia ran across the station to get a good compartment. While all of this was happening, the family of three didn't notice a certain grey-eyed man looking at concern for his daughter, confusion for the little boy, and fury for the vile women.

In all that chaos was a large family of 6 people, quickly saying their goodbye. A tall red-headed woman lecturing her 2 sons and her husband on the rules at Hogwarts, a certain playboy who had left his new girlfriend at home after being yelled at by Lily, and a man with a furry little problem was mentally checking he didn't forget anything until something caught his eye.

"Prongs, Padfoot, Prongs, Padfoot. There is a mini female version of pads running across the station." A chocolate-loving man exclaimed, bouncing up and down.

With that declared, the family of 6 turned their heads to see a girl rushing to the train, her icy grey eyes held a glint of mischief, while her long black curly hair kept flashing different colors in excitement.

"She's really pretty," Nico Potter said dreamily, staring after the girl. The adults either chuckled or groaned knowing the fact, "if a potter sets his eyes on a girl, he will chase after her till the end of time if he must."

"Why's her hair like that?" and oblivious James Potter asked. "Is she a unicorn?" he gasped in sudden realization. An annoyed lily potter smacked him across the head.

"She is not a unicorn dumbo. She is a metamorphous" she said shaking her head at her husband

"She is my daughter" he stated casually, eyes slightly glaring at Nico. This causal statement placed everyone in a state of shock. Not wanting this conversation now, Lily hastily hurried her kids onto the train and waved goodbye.

ღ꧁ On The Train ꧂ღ

Meanwhile, young Cassiopeia was searching the train for an empty compartment. It can be a bit daunting if you are very aware that the occupants will be older than you no matter where you go. That was until she stumbled upon a compartment that had a small boy curled up into the side of the train reading a book, he looked to be the first year. He had short black hair that seemed well kept, his eyes seemed the same color as his hair, but what really stood out was the fact that he was littered with scars. Having personal experience with scars, she knows she hates talking about her bruises. Maybe that's what compelled her to loudly enter the compartment.

"Hold your applause till the end folks, I, Cassiopeia Alhena Black, have come to bless you with my stupendous presence" she dramatically declared entering, after putting her trunk up with magic, she bowed.

"Umm, hello" the boy replied timidly.

"My Names Nathanial Davis, please to meet you"

"Oh my Merlin, are you reading 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, by Raymond Carver," she suddenly asked Nathanial.

"Oh yeah, have you read it?"

"Yes, it is spectacular" she exclaimed.

In an attempt to make a friend, the boy did something that sealed his fate with the girl

"Umm, do you want some chocolate?" he offered it out to the strange girl

She suddenly gasped so loudly, it made him question her sanity.

"You are my new and only best friend Nathaniel"

"Really," he said excitedly, never having a friend growing up was hard, but having this girl in front of him offering was thrilling. Even if she seemed a bit mental.

"Of course, I'm only 10 so I'm kinda scared to talk to anyone else. You were my 'it's all or nothing' shot" she explained

"Oh, wait firstly how on earth do you say your name and secondly how are you 10" Nathaniel spoke, being more comfortable around this peculiar girl

She just laughed it off, "Just call me a nickname for now Nathaniel and I guess I just got my letter early, I should thank Dumbbells"

"Dumbles..?" He questioned, he knows this girl is going to bring him trouble for the next 7 years.

"Yeah, my family has such long names that I've grown accustomed to nicknames. I have learned most of the professor's names and gave them the nicknames"

"And may I question what these names are?" He asked raising an eyebrow

" Ah mi amigo tendrás que esperar y descubrir" she spoke, much to the confusion of nathaniel.

"Though there is one teacher I need her first name for to make a nickname, I can't make a Cassiopeia-worthy-nickname out of Rayer"

"Spanish, Are you from Spain or something?" Nathaniel questioned

"Oh no, I'm as English as can be," Cassiopeia chuckled. "But I have taught myself to speak countless languages, so I won't have anybody making offhand comments about me."

"Wow, How many languages," Nathaniel asked in awe as the girl started counting of her fingers

"Roughly, 6,500 languages. Oh but I'm learning Mermish at the moment,"

"That's all the languages," Nathaniel deadpanned.

"Yeah, but what else can I boast about" she replied shrugging.

Nathaniel just laughed at the girl's humor, though spending the last 10 mins with her gives the impression that she won't be afraid to use those nicknames to their faces.

They had spent the entire ride getting to know each other. The friends didn't know at the time, but they had created an unbreakable friendship that can rarely be achieved by siblings,