JINX; SEPTEMBER

After cramming Draco's ever so important Comet Two-Sixty into his cart and taking a surprise stop at the Magical Menagerie, we left Diagon Alley with three more beings than we had started with.

The first creature was Draco's, an eagle owl with sharp talons and a cutting cry. He dubbed him the name Ulysses after shooting down my suggestion of Screech.

Cradled in my arms, I held the second animal. He was a great gift from Auntie Cissa, making me giggle every time he'd frisk around, weaving mischievously on my shoulders. Kramer was a ferret with a coat of shock blonde.

He wore a bemused expression, his dark eyes widened out to their fullest extent. Up until that moment, I never thought an animal could show facial expressions. Named after the eccentric character on Seinfeld, he quickly became my favorite thing at Malfoy Manor.

The third critter to join us was Theo. He begged incessantly for his mother to allow him to sleep over at the Manor. She caved in, parting ways with us when we apparated.

Over the last drips of summer, I began to see more and more of Theo. He was at the Manor most days and if he wasn't then he would invite Draco and me to his home or on outings. The boys dragged me along their adventures. Theo made sure I was present, engaged in whatever trifle the two had planned.

I soon found out that Theo's mother wasn't his biological mom. His real mother had passed when Theo was very young. His father, much older than most fathers, remarried to Theo's stepmother a year or two after his first wife's passing.

Theodore Nott was an odd boy. He did strange things to me often. The most distinct thing he did is when he'd sleepover. Right before bed, the boy would come to the edge of my room, leaning on the rich mahogany door frame. He'd stare at me for a time, hands shoved in his pajama pockets, wildly luminous eyes never daring to blink.

"What do you want?" I'd ask in a mumble, covered by my thick comforter and mountains of blankets. Kramer would be wriggling around, kept up by bouts of insomnia.

"Nothing. Good night, Jinx." Then he'd slip away, slinking back into Draco's room. He'd do a lot of strange things like that, but I just figured that was Theo. He was a bit strange, but so was I and so was everybody.

In my spare time, I strolled the grounds and surrounding areas, wanting to know every nook and cranny of the ornate palace that I lived in. I talked to portraits, read wizarding literature from the Malfoy's massive library, and wrote letters to Apollo to fill him in on my new privileged life.

Of course, I had to smudge out the magic bits, partly because I didn't want him to think I was crazy and partly because it was illegal. Aunt Cissa made sure to firmly tell me about the International Statute of Secrecy and all of its codes.

The big idea was that using magic in front of muggles or telling them about it was a big no. Apollo was a muggle so he couldn't know. I had to lie to my best friend. But still, it was worth it for magic. Now that I had tasted a new world I was afraid that it would be ripped away just like everything else had been.

My days had also been filled with numerous shopping trips in order to annihilate my original wardrobe.

The trunk I had packed for school was now filled with a plethora of dresses, each patterned intricately, bobby socks, glossy mary janes, headbands, ribbons, an assortment of tights, white blouses, sweater vests, dress ties, posh pullovers, culottes, turtlenecks, plaid pants, plaid skirts, and plaid everything.

When nobody was looking I snuck in my old clothes such as well-loved baggy t-shirts, loose-fitting jeans, my treasured converse, and roomy overalls. I found these items much more comfortable and easier to play around in. Preferring the rough and tumble look was fine. I couldn't see why Auntie Cissa and Uncle Lucius had such distaste for it.

Weeks turned into days that turned into the day. September first, 1991. The day my feet broke ground on Hogwarts soil. The manor was bright and lively, joyous for our departure.

The windows had been opened, curtains ruffled in the last summer breeze, waving goodbye to us when we apparated to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Trunks on our carts, Draco and I buzzed with unified excitement. Each of us was eager to start our magical education.

"If you get sorted into Gryffindor I'll laugh." I teased, jabbing him in the ribs with my elbow. "I'll laugh and laugh and laugh and-"

"Oh shut it." Draco snapped, concern swiftly snuffed with bratty behavior. "I'll be in Slytherin, just you see. All I'm sayin' is that you better hope you don't get put in Hufflepuff. You'll be branded a weakling!"

"Yeah yeah." I shrugged, rolling my cart alongside him when a tremendous force crashed into us. Luckily nothing spilled over, luggage remaining stubbornly stuck on the metal cart. My body on the other hand was a different story. I fell to the floor with a groan, the pavement smacking hard against my skin.

"Haha!" A bigger boy loomed over me, snickering along with his curly-haired friend. "Maybe try lookin' where you're goin' next time."

"I could say the same to you." Growling my remark through gritted teeth, my remaining temper scalded along my skin. "Frog-faced Twat."

"Crabbe! Goyle!" Draco greeted them exuberantly, patting each of their backs. "I haven't seen you blokes in ages. Tell me, how was Paris. I hear it's brilliant this time of year..." My cousin trailed off with his snotty talk, moving the conversation while the boys followed behind him. It seemed like any resentment Draco had for me flared out when he had an audience.

"Are you alright?" A voice asked politely from behind me. "Those boys were a little mean to you. Do you know them?" My mouth couldn't seem to close. I was certain my eyes had transformed into stars, sparkling naively when I saw him.

"I- Um- He's- He's my cousin. The blond bratty one." I stammered, taking the boy's hand that he offered. He helped me up, letting go far too soon. My skin flamed fervently, a blush creeping up my cheeks. "I'm Jinx."

"I'm Neville." He replied, front teeth charmingly crooked.

"Hi." I breathed.

The worst of summer burned freckles onto him, adorning the bridge of his nose. His russet hair swooped down on his forehead in bang-like cuts. Neville was a bit chubby, baby fat clinging onto him. I liked it. It made him look soft in his geeky sweater.

He was the most adorable boy I had ever met. He was the kind of cute that made everything he did endearing. The kind that made

A ribbit sounded from beneath us, echoing from the train station's floor. The emerald little frog leaped from Neville's feet, escaping from the boy with short little hops.

"Trevor!" Neville crowed, sent in a full blown panic. "I'm sorry." He apologized in a quick manner, jade colored eyes widening. "I got to catch my frog!" The mystery boy scrambled to catch up to his little friend, back of hair messy from his pursuit.

"Wow." I muttered softly, eyes unable to tear away from him. Enchanted by an awkward boy who had a funny way of running, I stood there in the train station, completely lost but fully found.

"Jinx!" Shouted a familiar obnoxious family member of mine. "Hurry up, Dog! Don't want to miss the train!" After a few quick head shakes, I was jolted back to reality.

"Alright! Coming, Jerk-Face!" Swiftly, I gripped onto my cart, rolling fast to catch up with Draco. Kramer zipped up my shoulders, latching onto my spiffy Malfoy attire.

My green dress paired smartly with my white tights. Bottle green ribbons kept my two braids tied up, hiding away my curly hair.

Draco waited for me. More realistically, he was stopped by his parents from abandoning me. Auntie Cissa and Uncle Lucius had found their way to him. We were all back together again. Like puzzle pieces.

"Finally!" Draco said with a snippy tone, his sharp eyes rolling like bowling balls. "If you had gone any slower you would've been going backwards."

"Well I'm here. Don't blow your brain." I snarked back, braids whipping around to turn toward him.

"Oh, you two, stop fussin'." Auntie Cissa gently chastised, her voice never leaving her pleasant tone. "It's time to go through the barrier. Draco, you first. Show your cousin how."

"Easy." Draco remarked snidely, buckling down on his cart and running full speed toward  the wall placed between nine and ten.

"Woah! What are you do-" He was gone before I could finish, completely vanished from existence. His stupid cart was gone too. "Where did he go?"

"You'll see." Uncle Lucius snotted. "You next. Go on."

Gulping down any reasoning, I followed Draco's path, disappearing from one world to another. A bustling train station greeted me, filled with kids running around, laughter that rang like bells, and steam that wafted from the majestic cherry red steam engine that laid before me.

"Pretty isn't it." Auntie Cissa and Uncle Lucius crossed over, each of them shouldering me. My Aunt stroked my brassy hair, her touch concerned but filled with love. "I remember my first day."

"As do I, Darling." Uncle Lucius drawled, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"As do I."

We exchanged hugs. A warm embrace from Auntie Cissa and a robotic stiff one from Uncle Lucius. He didn't seem to care for hugging, or at least not for hugging me.

"I love you, Jinxie." My Aunt whispered in my ear. "Your Mum would be so proud. Go be our pretty Slytherin girl." She hesitated before saying. "Don't listen to the other children if they say anything. You are Jinx Lestrange. Keep your chin up."

"Bye, Auntie Cissa." My chest sunk into itself. I had the urge to hold fast onto her, glued to her until we made it home. "I'll owl you."

"Bye-bye."

I untangled myself from the only mother figure I had ever had, making my way to the train's entrance. My luggage was carted away, ticket punched, heart stuck in my throat. I filed onto the train, going from the busy atmosphere of the train station to the wild jungle of the train's inside.

I was lost among the thick sea of children, each already paired with a friend or two. They pushed past me. The train screamed along with the kids inside, it's whistle signaling the chug of the magic powered wheels.

Pressed against one of the walls, weathered backpack fitting snug on me, Kramer was my only company. At least he was until a horde of red-headed children burst into the train, making it on in the nick of time.

They dispersed swiftly, each knowing their place. All but two of them remained. A pair of twins panting from the thrill of near failure. They were tall. Besting my height easily. The twins were right at the age when boy's started to grow into lanky creatures.

"Oi, George." One of the spotted me, an unsettling grin shooting up his face. I forgot to breathe, oxygen stuffing up my throat as they neared me. "Who's this?"

"I dunno, Fred." His brother replied, smiling giddily as they trapped me. The twins boxed me in, blocking off each side of the train's hallway. They smelled of smoke, maple syrup, and burnt marshmallows. "I reckon she's an ickle little first year." He picked up my braids, lifting them teasingly. "Green, interesting choice." The ginger boy snorted passive aggressively.

The brother I figured was Fred shot his hands out, making me jump when he seized Kramer. My ferret squeaked, frightened by a freckled giant jerking him away from me.

"What in the bloody hell is this thing?" Fred squinted, scrunching up his nose as he recklessly handled the squirrel sized creature. "Some sort of misshapen cat?"

"Put him down!" I protested, trying in vain to reach my pet. "Give him back!"

My accent pricked up the boy's ears. They slowly turned to look at each other, exchanging boisterous guffaws as if they had just heard the funniest thing in the entire world.

"She's an American ickle little first year!" Fred laughed, dimples pressed into his cheeks. "Oh what could be better than this!"

"Give him back!" My voice became harsher, snarling at the twin jerks. "Come on, Dude!" I stood on my tip-toes, spine extending as far as humanely possible. My arm sockets felt like they were on the verge of popping out.

This only gave the twins greater amusement, snickering as they dangled my poor ferret just out of my reach.

"Actually, Georgie, I don't remember whatever this thing is being allowed to come to Hogwarts. Aren't the options toad, cat, or owl?"

"I believe so, Freddie." George yanked one of my braids, pulling out it's ribbon.

"Ow!" My hand shot to my aching scalp, skin screaming from the harsh tug. "What the heck?!"

"Tender headed?" He drooped the unraveled ribbon over me like one would do to a cat. I pushed away his wrist, focusing my attention back on Fred and Kramer.

Having enough, I brought back one of my shiny Mary-Janes. I smashed it against Fred's shin, a strangled cry came from the looming boy. Kramer dropped into my arms, I cradled him tightly. I was never letting go of him again.

"You little-!"

"You two are rude and horrible and awful and I don't like either of you one bit!" I yelled back, my face splotchy from the pure rage I felt. Turning to George, I ordered. "Move!"

"Whatever you say, Little Miss Princess." George stuffed my ribbon in his pocket, obliging my command with a slight chuckle. I shoved past him, storming off as fast as I could.

My patent leather shoes gleamed, euphoric over their triumph. Without a second thought, I chose a random compartment door. Madly stamping in, ferret in my arms, was the first impression I gave her.

"I've been expectin' you." She said quietly, peering up with those all seeing eyes of burnt brown. Her face was framed by thick, square shaped, wire glasses. "We'll sort of. I saw somethin' arrive here for sure in my vision. I figured it was either a kid or the trolley woman."

She was shorter than me, dainty, dressed in a silky shirt. The material sported blue, green, pink, and purple. Waved of light ripples through it, pulling out the bright colors. Her skin was a dark umber, wrists covered in a multitude of bracelets.

"Huh?" I was lost from both my heated encounter and the girl sitting in front of me in the empty compartment. She was a hippie child. Straight from the 'Nam protests.

To top off her entire look she paired her shirt with a breezy long purple skirt, necklaces with all sorts of strange charms, and a variety of eclectic rings on her slim fingers. It was fabulous. Way better than the clothing that I had been forced into.

"My vision." She explained, her voice a soft rustle of wind, easy on the ears. " I just had one."

"You have visions?"

"Mhm." She nodded, folding her hands in her lap. Bracelets sounding like wind chimes as she made slight movements.

"Sick." I agreed, plopping onto the seat opposite to her. "Tell me all about it. The name's Jinx."

"Cassie." She pointed to herself, straightening out a burette she placed in her hair.

I loved her hair immediately. It reminded me of a book character's hair. The real pretty kind. Her raven colored hair puffed around her head in tiny curls, crowning her in her self made halo.

"I like your outfit." Complimenting her, I pressed my back against the compartment's soft seats. "It's real cool."

"Thanks." Cassie replied, leaning her head against the window pane. "I like yours too." After a bout of silence, she broke it with a question. "You're a first year, right?"

"Yeah."

"Me too!" She moved forward in her seat, excitement catching her. "My mum works at the school. The only reason I'm takin' the train is because I spent the summer with my dad. They're separated."

"Really? So you know what Hogwarts looks like? What's your mom's name? What does she teach?" Questions spilled from my mouth like water. This girl was fascinating, drawing me in with her moonstone jewelry and glitter stars that shone on her cheekbones. How could I not ask away?

"Yeah, I've lived there throughout the school years for as long as I can remember. My mum's the divination professor, Sybil Trelawny."

We clicked. Conversation between us was easy. She didn't mock me. Any part of me. Cassie was the first person who hadn't.

When the trolley cart came around to our compartment she ordered us two cauldron cakes. A treat I'd never heard of. The only pastry I could relate it to was a decadent chocolate cupcake.

"I looove cauldron cakes." Cassie whispered secretly. "My mum never lets me have any sweets. Says they'll mess with my vibrations and aura but they are soooo good." Through a mouthful of cake the girl shifted her sugary tangent. "What house are you hoping on getting tonight?"

"Slytherin." I grinned, licking stray frosting off of my palm. "Everyone in my family's Slytherin so if I don't get in I'd be a complete embarrassment."

"Slytherin? Really?" Her tone changed, curious but suspicion edged her voice. "Most people want Gryffindor. They rule the school. I fancy Ravenclaw. My mum was in Ravenclaw."

"From what I heard it sort of suits you."

"Why thank you."

More time passed. We got to know the basics of each other's lives and by four o'clock we were each content with socialization.

Cassie pulled some yarn out of her vibrant knapsack, resuming a knitting project. She swore it would be the comfiest hat for winter, it's green chunky thread weaving together her masterpiece.

I picked up my potions textbook, burying my head in it. It caught my eye in flourish and blots and I had been avidly reading it ever since it's purchase. The subject made my skin buzz.

I loved the idea of pouring over a cauldron, cooking away. It was just like the witches in story books except it was real. Luck, love, power, and glory could be brewed. Abstract ideas could turn into something tangible. Something drinkable.

"Oh my, Merlin." A girlish voice gasped. Only the phrase didn't come from Cassie or I's mouths. Standing at the compartment door was a girl with hair of dirty blonde that curled down to her waist. A bright pink bow acted as a headband, showing off her rosy face.
"It's true, isn't it? You're Jinx Lestrange, right?" Accused the girl. She leaned forward against the doorframe, keeling in anticipation for my answer.

"Well, yeah." I took a short glance around the compartment for comedic effect. "Last time I checked."

"Wow." The girl spoke after a long pause, tilting her head. "That's wow. Sorry." She did not sound sorry. "I'm Lavender Brown." She reached out and shook hands with Cassie.

"Cassie Trelawny." Introduced Cassie, the stars on her face shining finer than any bright ball of fiery light. "Nice to meet-"

"Your mum's the divination professor, yeah?" Lavender asked the question suspiciously as if Cassie was trying to slip something by her.

"Yeah."

"That's so cute." Remarked Lavender with