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After a very gruelling car ride of things being thrown at each other and arguing over the radio station, the family had finally arrived at the platform. Whilst the children fussed over trolleys and cages they made their way through the barrier at the platform. Zinnia's favourite time of year was the first day of school, not because she enjoys the school part as much, but because she entered the world of Hogwarts again. Sure she lived in a magical household, but it just wasn't the same.

The children scrambled round to find their friends, Primrose hastily striding over to a scowling group of slytherins. The Beaumont name was one known in the wizarding world but anyone from Tristan's family had their nose turned up at them by snotty purebloods. That's why primrose tried so hard to fit in, being a half-blood from a prominent wizarding family was hard for her, so she blended in with the rest.

Aster bounded over to a group of lively second years whilst Violet tried to round them up in order to establish her Head Girl dominance.

Zinnia caught the eye of a young ravenclaw boy, Kian. Zinnia and Kian had been close friends since he defended Aster in a fight when a bunch of 7th graders were picking on him. Ever since then Zinnia vowed to be a devoted friend to Kian Findlay. He snuck up behind her and playfully put his hands on her shoulders with a jolt. Zinnia let in a loud gasp of air, scared considering what had happened at the world cup, but her face eased when seeing the bright face of Kian.

"Merlin you scared the shit out of me Ki" Zinnia laughed holding her hand to her chest

"Sorry Z" he chuckled. Zinnia had liked Kian last year. How could you not? He was gorgeous, smart and loyal. But for some reason around halfway through the year she lost interest, she didn't remember why but she was glad they could be friends. "Have a good summer then?"

"If you don't count almost being trampled to death by death eaters, then yeah I had a really good summer"she joked. She found that joking about these things made it just a little bit easier.

"Oh how I miss your sarcasm dear" he laughed "but seriously are you okay?". He found it a habit to be concerned for her with her reckless nature.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. How was your summer?" She avoided any talk about her feelings.

"It was great, mum took me to the beach in Scotland. Ironic isn't it?" he laughed.

"Yeah I can't imagine how much sun you would get there," she joked, hitting his arm. Kian looked at her smile and the two basked in the happiness they felt being together again. Kian looked over her head to violet rounding up the first years.

"I can see your sister is fitting into the role well" he stared at her

"yeah you better keep her company in your common room, she misses having Basil with her and needs someone" she sighed at her big sister.

"Yeah i'll- i'll keep her company" Kian said running his hands through his shoulder length dark hair. Zinnia looked at him suspiciously, before she could comment on it though she heard a faint yell of her name. Swinging around she spotted a bushy head followed by two boys weaving through the crowd. Zinnia turned back to Kian to say goodbye

"See you at the castle Ki" she hugged him and left towards the group

"Guys i feel like i haven't seen you in ages" Zinnia fake cried at the group as she wrapped them all in a hug. She found it harder as Ron and Harry had shot up considerably over the summer thus ending the height arguments within the group.

"You literally saw us at the world cup, and you've seen Harry and I for the last couple of weeks"
Ron made fun of the dramatic girl

"Hey two days can feel like a lot when your away from your best friends" Zinnia humorously complained

"Always gotta complain don't you Z? Miss drama queen" Harry chuckled looking at the brown haired girl. Zinnia turned to him completely and they held their gaze for only a moment but it felt like forever. Zinnia did not like this new unidentified feeling in her stomach when she talked to Harry. It was new and it was change, two of Zinnia's least favourite things in the world.

"Coming from you Mr I gotta save the world" she playfully punched his chest as the two laughed. Harry loved making her laugh, to anyone it would seem like an honour to make Zinnia Beaumont laugh. It was intoxicating and Harry never wanted it to stop.

"Come on you guys we've got to get on the train before it leaves" Hermione said frantically looking from the train to her watch.

"Calm down we don-" Zinnia was swiftly interrupted by little arms wrapping themselves around her thighs. Looking down and behind her she was met with the smiling face of Daisy. "Hey munchkin" she greeted whilst picking her up and placing her on her back. "Remember to say hi to my friends" Zinnia reminded the kid

"Hi zee friends" she said through the muffle of Zinnia's hair. The group laughed at the small girl being so playful

"Hello daisy" Harry replied to Daisy with a kind gesture.

"HARRY" Daisy replied, lifting her arms up and almost falling off of Zinnia's back. They all laughed at her as Zinnia slipped her off of her back as Poppy and her parents approached.

"Hello Mr and Mrs Beaumont" hermione greeted with a grin

"Dahlia and tristan is fine sweetie' Dahlia replied "hope you all had a good summer, Now Z say goodbye to your sisters.'' Zinnia hugged and kissed her sister's goodbye with a subtle 'hold in there' to poppy after seeing her droopy face at the prospect of her sister leaving for school without her. The four students waved goodbye to their parents after huggs from the weasleys and packing their trunks on the train. They all boarded and waved at them as the train took off from the station.

The train ride was like every other year. The group had settled into a routine of coming into their own compartment on the train to and from hogwarts. The gleaming scarlet train was as usual filled with the buzzing of excited students, spells being thrown back and forth after a summer of no magic, and first years exploring the corridors. The Four proceeded to their seats in their own compartment and sat down with a content sight. The train ride was nothing out of the ordinary. Visits from friends and a rumble with malfoy.

"What a prick, do you think he'll ever stop talking out of his ass?" Zinnia snarled as she watched the lanky blonde walk to his friends in a different carriage.

"What do you think he's on about 'entering' something" Harry questions following Malfoys taunts about not knowing about a secret event to happen at Hogwarts this year.

"Don't know, Dad, Percy and Charlie wouldn't stop hinting at something happening this year, Percy just kept on trying to get us to ask about it. Right pain he is" Ron explained to the group

"Whatever it is, I hope we don't get involved in it, I could use a break this year" Zinnia retorted, getting slightly tired of almost losing her life every year. Not that she would sacrifice everything for Harry and fight for him at the drop of a hat but her grades would struggle a bit at the idea of imminent doom.

"That's likely," Hermione sarcastically replied, not lifting her head from the oversized book she was reading. The group looked around and chuckled at this. Zinnia turned her head to look out the window, she loved to look at the stream of green trees and landscape as the train whizzed past the fields. She displayed a small smile in the corner of her mouth thinking about the year to come. Her pleasant thoughts were interrupted by Ron clearing his throat, she turned her head in confusion about to ask what he was doing but was distracted when she found Harry staring at her. He promptly turned away and hit Ron on the arm, Zinnia let out an amused huff and shifted her gaze towards Hermione who lifted her eyes to give Zinnia a small smirk. 

The rest of the ride was filled with laughter and teasing, they all caught up on what had happened that summer and the events of the Quidditch World Cup. Once it began to get dark, the group changed into their uniform and robes, eager to arrive at Hogwarts for another year.

(A.N- update-i changed this a tiny bit to fit the plot better, when i wrote it i was still figuring out what i was doing :)