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Two hogwarts express
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Wednesday September 1st, 1976

Magnolia was prepared to start her sixth year and stood outside the Hogwarts Express at seven in the morning with her parents.

"This is your sixth year.." Rotandia informed her and she resisted the urge to pretend to be surprised at that. Was it really her sixth year? Magnolia had no idea. Her father stood beside her mother but he too, seemed to be zoning out and was instead looking towards Amelia Bulstrode, mother of third year David Bulstrode. She pretended to be listening to what her mother was saying but was focused on the look shared between her father and the woman. Magnolia was no fool. On her trip with him to France, she wouldn't bat an eyelid at the way her father was with every witch his age they spoke to at parties, or the way the waitress in the hotel had slipped writing on his napkin. However, she was surprised her father was bold enough to share such a look with her mother standing directly beside her. "—it is more important now than ever that you focus on your subjects, defence against the dark arts most importantly. You should spend this term focusing on your magic instead of that carry on you got up to last year."

Magnolia kept her eyes on the ground with furrowed brows. "You're the one who told me to date Evan Rosier."

                                 Her mother's nose scrunched in disgust, "That boy treated you well. I'm surprised he put up with you for as long as he did. You'd be right to speak with him and sort whatever problem you naturally had." Magnolia resisted the urge to laugh when she said that.

                                "You couldn't even do that properly." Her father interrupted, shaking his head and seemingly snapping back into the conversation. "You can't do anything right because of your insufferable quality of imperfection and need to fail at everything in your life. Keep at it this year and see what will happen."

                               At the mention of Evan Rosier, she bit down on her lips and became quiet, instead focusing on the small shop in the distance to distract herself. His name made her body run cold and she felt like she was back in her bedroom with him banging and screaming on the door to let her in. Her and Evan had known one another since before they attended Hogwarts, she went to several of his families dinner parties as a child and his parents were well known respected wizards. Last September, they had begun dating and stayed together the entire year: until she broke up with him at the very start of the summer.

                               Magnolia always thought that powers were the most dangerous things to possess on this earth but she after dating Rosier, she soon realised that there was nothing more dangerous than a violent man.

                             Magnolia had not really believed in going out with someone. Everyone she ever dated had been because she met them at a party in her parents house, or the exception of Evan. It sounded illogical in the overall view of things. She didn't like the idea of being set up with someone by her parents so she choose to give Evan Rosier a shot when he asked her out. It had been the worst decision Magnolia had ever made.

Tuesday November 4th, 1975

                    Magnolia stood in the bathroom at the Rosier's house. It was the middle of the day and she could hear the noise from outside in the small room and she washed her hands. It had been Evan's younger cousins birthday and she had face paint smeared across her face, from the left side of her face to the right side. A butterfly painted by a talented artist.

                   She looked in the mirror at the paint that was stinging her cheek. Magnolia leaned over and grabbed some tissue, and dampened it with the water. She brought the piece of wet tissue up to her cheek and winced at the pain underneath her eye. Gently, she wiped across her cheek to look at the purple bruise covering the area. She looked at it for a long moment.

                            "Magnolia?" Seth's voice beamed through the bathroom door. "Are you alright?"

                           "I'm fine," She called out, "I'll be out in a minute."

                           She snapped back into reality and nods at her parents words, once again pretending to listen to the meaningless advice they were given her: although it wasn't really advice, it was orders. She couldn't help but scan the station, looking around to see if she could see any familiar faces but instead caught a glimpse of James Potter. He was hugging whom were presumably his parents. The way his mother had been looking at him with such clear affection was odd for Magnolia to see. She found that public display of affection almost weird in a sense. Who could care about someone so much that they were almost reduced to tears in the middle of the station? It had been a weird scene all together.

                            Her parents left a moment after that and she boarded the train with her luggage in her hands. She passed by the different compartments surrounded by the laughter of individuals. She passed by a group of Ravenclaws girls in her year who all become quiet as walked by. She could feel their glares on her back as she went into her compartment. Magnolia was sorted into Slytherin and the hat barely touched her head before the banners turned green. She was happy to be in that house, it had been the only one she thought worthy of being in. However the other three houses did not get alone with her house, there was an unspoken rivalry between them. Especially between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

                                 She had two friends and even having two friends had been a push for someone like Magnolia who didn't enjoy the company of others. The first boy had been Rodrick Mulon, a very tall and muscular boy from Brighton. He was a free spirit boy who dreamt of being in a rock band; a very odd wish for a pure-blooded Slytherin boy. However Rodrick was raised with two very positive, supportive parents. His parents and hers didn't really get along well, mostly because Rodrick parents had not been as prejudiced as hers. Then there had been Seth Maddox, he had crystal blue eyes and usually had a head full of thin brown hair but instead a buzz cut sat on top of his head. Seth was a good listener, he was been someone who Magnolia couldn't imagine not being in her life. She always thought she never really relied on people but Seth was one of those people who she relied on.

        She entered the compartment to see Seth sitting covered his nose whilst Rodrick smoked a blunt. She tilted her head as both boys looked up at her.  "Oh, well, good morning to you two." She mentioned, as she closed the compartment door and sat down.

                    "Was starting to think you weren't showing." Rodrick grinned.

                    "And miss this?" She questioned, brows furrowed. "Never. Now don't be selfish, pass it over here."

                     Seth shook his head in disapproval. "That stuff isn't good for you or your brain."

                      "You know if you smoked, then you'd be less uptight." Rodrick waved it in front of him.

                      "I am not uptight." Seth replied, flickering the boys hand away.

                      "Yes you are." Rodrick and Magnolia said in unison.

                      Magnolia exhaled allowing the smoke to come from her lips, she handed it back to Rodrick who didn't waste anytime in pulling from the piece. "It's alright, we love you anyways."

                              "How was the trip with your dad?" Seth questioned, leaning back in his seat and looking at her. She turned her head slightly to meet his eyes.

                              "I wouldn't really call it a trip," Magnolia retorted, rummaging through "He spent the entire time with his friends from school, although I can't really complain about that. I prefer the fact I didn't have to see him. It was alright I supposed, I got away from my mum for the summer so I cant really complain. Although I wasn't happy to find out Tris was getting married and getting given a weeks notice. It gave me no time to convince her out of it."

                               Since the wedding, Tris had not sent her as much as letters as usual, which Magnolia somewhat expected. She was busy with her duties, and practising her magic. However, Tris was the only cousin Magnolia would consider family. She was the only person in this world Magnolia really trusted with her life. Of course she trusted Seth and Rodrick, but she found it hard to trust people.

                              "At least you got away from your house for a bit." Seth mentioned, "My mum made me spend the entire summer helping her clean the mansion. It was horrible. We've got cleaners for that, I don't know why she insisted doing it herself, and I don't know why she dragged me to help her!"

                               "She probably misses her only baby when he goes away," Rodrick teases, leaning over and pinching the cheek bones of Seth. Magnolia noticed the boys cheekbones had become more prominent and firm. "I heard her call you her "clever, handsome boy" outside the train station."

                               "Well, she's not wrong, is she?" Seth replied.

                              The rest of train ride goes quickly and by the time Magnolia felt herself dozing off, she had to be up and into her uniform. Next thing she was up and getting onto the small boats and across the Black Lake, and now she found herself walking towards the Forbidden Forest. She walked alongside Seth and Rodrick towards the carriages that could hold five people. There had been two carriages left, and one of them was occupied by Rosier, Mulciber, Nott, which meant that there was only two more people that would fit in.

                                             Evan's eyes lifted and he looked at her somewhat surprised to see her there.

                                             "Can we talk?" He requested.

                                             "Would rather die." Magnolia replied, before whirling around and looking at Seth and Rodrick, who looked confused. "It's fine, I'll take the next one." Magnolia mentions, sending them a reassuring smile. Seth looked at her as if debating whether or not to go.

                                             "You sure?" Rodrick asked.

                                             "Positive." Magnolia emphasized her words, and her eyes sent one more glare towards Rosier before she whirled around and went towards the next carriage, the last one left.

                                 Magnolia turns around when she hears someone call her name and much to her instant delight, she was greeted with one of the adults of the grounds she actually liked. It the grounds keeper Rubeus Hagrid, who was a large half giant who resided in his little hut at the bottom of the castle. He was a very non judgemental, kind hearted man. She was sure he didn't have one bad bone in his body. "Hagrid!" She greeted, heading in his direction. He extended his arms but she cautiously steps back.

                          "Still not a hugger, eh?" Hagrid asks.

                           "Unfortunately not." She replied, nose scrunching slightly at the thought. She could count on times the number of times she had been hugged by someone. Two out of the three hugs had been from Tris. She didn't like the idea of them nor did she find them comforting. "How are you? I'm sorry I couldn't reply to your letter. I wasn't at home for most of the summer."

                               It was a lie but it clear he couldn't tell. The reason she couldn't reply was because her father found the letter before she got home one evening and he burnt it before she could read.

                             "Er that's fine, Magnolia! I was just wondering how yer summer was that's all!" Hagrid smiles happily, "Don't worry bout it. I just wanted to check up on ya that with everything that's going on at the minute. I imagine in a ..family like yours...this time is very stressful."

                           "I'm fine, Hagrid." Magnolia knew what he was referring to. He was talking about the slow uprising of rebellion against non pureblood individuals. However this argument had been happening since the 40's so Magnolia wasn't really concerned that it was going to become anything more than conflict. Ever since the start of the year, there had been increasing numbers of half bloods and muggleborns that had been targeted by a certain group of wizards: it was known it was purebloods but no one would actually call out who it was. Magnolia didn't know many of the details about what was happening or why it was, but she knew her parents had become more invested in marrying her off to someone, they wanted her to keep her head clean this semester, and focus on her magic. She knew they were prepping her for something, but she couldn't put her finger on what. She knew that the Nott family had begun serving someone at the start of last semester because she heard Nott mention something about it to Seth: but at that time she was far too engrossed in her relationship with Rosier to even notice anything that was happening around her. It seemed like a lot of families were serving someone, but the name of that person was unknown. "Thanks for asking."

                          "Anytime." Hagrid replied, appearing as though he wanted to ask her something but was refraining from doing so. He glanced over her shoulder, "That's the last carriage left! You'd want to hurry onto it! But listen I hope I'll see you once you've settled in, my doors are always open! And Fang would love ta see yer!"

                      Magnolia smiled and nodded towards the man before turning on her heel, she walks to the last carriage and four heads snapped towards her. The people in the last carriage had of course been probably the only people she would refuse to get in a carriage with – unless Evan Rosier counted but she'd sooner get into a carriage with him than the four boys occupying that carriage. Their loud laughs had almost caused her to wince at the sheer loud carrying voices of the four boys. There had been the very popular four Gryffindor's who made her time at Hogwarts feel like she was in some sort of muggle television show.

                                          The first one had been James Potter, who seemed to be the leader of their little group. He was the one always walking ahead anyways. The boy only seemed interested in two things, which were quidditch and Lily Evans. He's got insanely curly messy brown hair that sits upon his large head. He was also hellbent on making sure every single Slytherin's student life was a misery: him and his three goons had spent the last four years coming up with elaborate pranks, usually taking it too far. If Magnolia had to guess why he hated her house so much, she would guess and say it was because he was jealous of the close relationship between Severus Snape and Lily Evans: Snape managed to befriend Lily Evans whilst it had been six years of pining by Potter to even get her to acknowledge him. You might be wondering how Magnolia knew this, everyone knew this. Between his public displays and loud conversation in lessons, everyone knew everything about Potter.

                                           Peter Pettigrew was a stoutness short boy, with dark overgrown blonde hair that sat upon his head. He was very good at defence against the dark arts, and she knew this because he got one mark below her in their Christmas exams last year, and she scored a 98. He had a very high pitched laugh that would be the worst thing to hear first thing in the morning, Magnolia could count on hand the numbers of times she had a headache in class and Pettigrews laugh would send her overboard.

                                           Remus Lupin was probably the only tolerable one in their group. When his friends didn't show up to class, Lupin sat quietly at the back not making a noise, but he was also loud when his friends were in class. He was a tall, lanky boy with light marks across his neck. He had shaggy brown hair and wore a very innocent expression a lot of the times, especially when being quizzed by professors. He didn't seem interested in anything other than reading, the boy seemed to always have a book in his hands.

                                          Lastly there was Sirius Black, the older brother of Regulus Black. Despite the boys being brothers, the two couldn't have been more different: Regulus was a quiet, conserved Slytherin whereas Sirius was the loudest, most arrogant and entitled person Magnolia ever seen. He and Potter both walked around the castle like they had some sort of golden grown rested upon his head. Sirius and Potter were the same height and she only knew this because the two stood beside one another twenty four seven in every single class.

                          "What the hell do you want?" Potter demanded.

                          "This is the last carriage." Magnolia stated, "And I'm not walking up the castle."

                          "Sorry, this carriage is full." Black replied sharply, sending her a glare. "Hey but I'm sure the walk up to the castle is fun."

                          Magnolia caught the door before it could slam shut, and she heaved it back open to find the four boys expressions were full of annoyance. She sent them a very obvious sarcastic smile as she got into the carriage, "Move your legs."

                               Black made no attempt to move and instead his fingers laid solemnly on the wand tucked into his sock.

                               "Sirius, just move your legs." Lupin snapped, sounding irritably. He looked white as the moon, had dark circles under his eyes and was drinking what seemed to be hot chocolate out of a flask. "It's the first day and I'm tired. I don't want to hear this. McGonagall will kill us if we cause trouble on the first day."

                               He kept his legs up on the seat but moved them a second later, letting out a loud annoyed grunt. Magnolia slid into the seat with a smirk sent in his direction. "What a good dog," she mentions. "You can listen to your owners instructions."

                               Black glared in her direction and the carriage halted forward. She sat there with her legs crossed and looked into the forest the entire time, ignoring the glares she received from the four boys. Lupin, however, seemed like he was mad in general. It also seemed like he was purposely making a point of drinking his coffee loudly from the flask. It was longest carriage journey she ever had to take but it gave her some time to reflect. She spent a few moments thinking about the fact this was her sixth year and she had done six years of school and still found herself out of place.

                              Was school supposed to be fun? She never found boarding school fun, but she did find it occupying: she felt like she knew her place there. Magnolia didn't know where exactly she fit in the school, or even within her family. Even her powers, the way she had taken them from her mother made her feel like she wasn't met for this world. She wasn't met to be born. Even though she would roll her eyes or argue with her parents when they said she was a mistake, Magnolia couldn't help but see it to be true.

                              When the carriage arrived to the castle, she practically jumped off of it, almost knowing Black down and walked past them. Seth and Rodrick both stood the entrance of the castle.

                               "How was that?" Rodrick asked, with a grin.

                             "They're Gryffindors." Magnolia rolled her eyes. "I'd prefer to have drown in the black lake."

                             The Great Hall had been the largest room in Hogwarts, hence the name Great Hall. It was the dining area filled with four long narrow tables for each of the houses. The top of the room held the professors table where they all sat in contempt. Magnolia liked the great hall for many reasons, and she always made a point of waking up early and sitting down inside it: she liked the way she could listen in on others peoples conversations, she thought the open sky light was pretty, she liked studying inside the hall as she could fill up on coffee and food whilst focusing.

' Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find a hat smarter than me,
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your heart,
The sorting hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you,
Where you ought to be,

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
Those patient Hufflepuff are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends
Those cunning folks use my means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands
For I'm a thinking Cap! '

                                           Albus Dumbledore was the headmaster of Hogwarts. He was noted as a social progressive believing strongly in the rights of Muggles as well as Muggle-borns and other oppressed minorities. He was a very clever man, he seemed to excel well in all areas of magic unlike the headmaster before him who Magnolia read had caused quite some trouble. He was a mid height man, who appeared somewhat older than his age and was going grey quickly. The second he clears his throat, the hall goes quiet. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, and congratulations to all our first years who have made it this far. As you venture upon the sorting hat, I would like you all to keep an open mind of the four houses you will be sorted into. You may not get the house you want, but you will be sorted into the house you will thrive in the best. I would also like to introduce the new Muggle Studies professor, Professor Burbage, who will be teaching the subject to anyone who wishes to take it!"

                                             Seth turns to Magnolia and Rodrick, "Muggle studies?" He mouths in disgust. Rodrick throws a grape at him.

                                             "With recent events that are happening, I would like everyone to know that the doors of my office are always open. I would like to ensure you all that Hogwarts will provide you all a safe home for the year, where your opinions can be heard. The priority of this school year is to ensure that you all feel safe and cared for. There are dark times approaching ahead and every single person in this room will be given a choice between what may be right or what is wrong. I would like you all to spend this school term thinking about what is happening outside these doors, and what you can do to help. Now, with that all being said, I'd like everyone to give an encouraging round of applause for the first years who will now be sorted!"

                         The sorting actually went quickly and there had been more students for Slytherin that any other house. This was very much so noted by the look of concern that some of the professors were given them. Once he finished, the banners for every house dropped down alongside the beginning of the school year feast which was notably the best feast, even out of the Christmas one. There was literally every single food in front of her, but she was too busy thinking to take any of it.

                           She didn't really believe what Dumbledore was saying about the doors of his office being open to anyone. Sure he was saying that to everyone who wasn't a Slytherin student, and she did fully believe that he would happily help any of the other houses. However, all of their minds had been made up when it came to Slytherins. Magnolia didn't know if she could feel mad about that. It wasn't exactly false information: a lot of Slytherins had been prejudice towards the other houses. However, as she looked around the table, she begun to wonder if everyone had already choose their side. Had her friends chosen a side?

                      Rodrick handed Magnolia a slice of pumpkin pie, with a suspicious amount of cream. She rose a brow and slid the plate back towards him. "I'm not eating that."

                      "Well you've got to eat something." Seth replied, sliding the plate in her direction again.

                      In response, she slid it back towards him and instead grabbed a fresh plate and pilled on a large amount of mashed potatoes, it was the one food her mum refused to serve in the house. She leaned across the table, and grabbed the gravy and poured a disgustingly heavy amount over the bowl. She took a large spoonful.

  "Happy?" she asks him, sending him a sarcastic smile.

  "Delighted." Seth mentions, grabbing a piece of tissue and wiping her chin as if a child. She swatted his hand away. "You should smile more."

  "I do smile."

  "You never smile."

  "I always smile. I'm smiling right now."

  "You are scowling right now."

  "That's just how I smile."

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Please vote and comment on this chapter if you enjoyed: reminder active readers are always better and motivate authors to write!!

Magnolia is a gem and i love seth and rodrick!! Cannot wait to write the development between Mango and the Marauders!!

wc: 4356