CHAPTER ONE: Just Friends

I furiously rushed around my room, packing all my Hogwarts things into my trunk. I packed everything I needed in there, studied it for a minute then I thought I'd lost something so I had to empty it out, then I had to re-pack it again. I did this several times until I was satisfied with my trunk. I didn't have any pets so I needn't worry about those.

"Lucy! Are you done yet? The train leaves in half an hour!" My father yelled a little angrily from the bottom of the stairs, I hated it when he yelled at me because I knew he could be really mean. I slammed one of draws shut with force, then shoved some more contents in my trunk.

"Just coming, dad!" I yelled back a little frustrated, heaving my trunk off of the bed. Unfortunately it landed on my toes and I screamed in pain, my father came running up the stairs and opened my bedroom door.

"What is all the screaming about?" He asked in a panicked tone, he was only concerned for my well being. 

"I-I dropped my trunk on my foot," I whined in pain. I was lying on the floor and at the same time trying to heave my trunk off of my foot.

"What have I told you about letting me carry your trunk instead of you thinking you can lift it yourself?" He groaned bending down and removing the trunk from on top of my now bruised foot. "You know how clumsy you are."

"I'm sorry, but I shouldn't be relying on you. I'm a teenager now."

"I have told you if you ever need help just ask me," he shook his head and began to walk downstairs carrying my trunk while I nursed my injured foot. I listened to his feet hitting every step until he hit the floor downstairs, I got up and got changed into something casual.

I put the clothing on and ran down the stairs, dad was waiting there holding my luggage and his own. I felt guilty, I protested on helping him but he refused, we walked outside the house and he locked the door with a wave of his wand. I'd always found magic fascinating. 

I looked down the street and saw a little sign saying 'Spinners end' I had lived here all my life, and it probably wasn't going to change unless I got married. Dad had never agreed on me getting a boyfriend, he thought I was too young, he was only protecting me from the big bad world ahead of me as he seemed to know a lot about it. 

Dad held out his arm out and I knew he wanted me to take hold of it because we were going to apparate, I hated apparating but it was amazing how it got you around. I mean, muggles couldn't do it so it was pretty special.

I took his arm and he apparated instantly, one second I was at Spinners end and the next I was in an alley way just beside King's Cross train station. Nobody ever went in that alley way so dad always apparated there just so he didn't risk the exposure of the Wizarding world. 

I grabbed dad's suitcase and wheeled it along whilst he was carrying my oh so heavy trunk. When we got inside King's cross I grabbed myself a trolley and dad placed the trunk carefully on it, he got himself a trolley as well and I put his suitcase on it.

I looked around the station and every where you looked muggles frantically ran around, some were booking tickets others were sitting down and eating and others were waiting there patiently, me and my father were in the centre of muggle everyday life. Amongst all this confusion, one woman caught my eye.

She was on tip toes looking around desperately, she looked about in her mid thirties. Suddenly she rushed through the crowd and flung her arms around a gentleman and he kissed her. I half smiled they both looked ever so happy. I could never imagine myself ending up in a situation like that, I'm just too clumsy and being the daughter of Severus Snape doesn't give me a huge advantage. 

"Come along, Lucy, we need to get on the train," dad sighed, noticing I'd drifted off. I nodded and took one last look at the happy couple, who were now holding hands and walking out of the over crowded muggle filled King's Cross station.

We found platforms nine and ten, I made sure no one was looking and ran through the barrier quickly, I stepped to the side and waited for my father to pass through. He did so moments later and I smiled. I followed him until we were right next to the train.

"I will see you in a couple of hours, alright? Behave yourself, I don't want to be having to deal with my own daughter if she breaks the rules," he said sternly pointing a finger in my face. His discipline had molded me into the polite young lady I was today and I was forever grateful for him because of this. 

"Dad, I'm going to be in fifth year! Do you really think I'm going to get myself in trouble?" I huffed and I placed my hands on my small hips, there wasn't that much of me considering I was fifteen, I had never really got curves at all, I was just really thin and tall.

"Well you never know, Potter and Weasley get themselves into a lot of trouble even now," he growled saying their names. I giggled at his growl, he really did despise Harry and Ron but personally I couldn't see what was wrong with them, everyone got themselves into a bit of trouble sometimes...didn't they?

"Okay then, I will see you at the feast!" I smiled, I gave him a hug. We waved goodbye to each other and got onto seperate compartments on the train, I looked in all of the compartments to see if I could see any of my friends but they didn't seem to be here yet.

After searching all the compartments and double checking to make sure, I stowed my trunk at the top of one of the racks then found myself an empty compartment. I sat down minding my own business and waited for the train ride to start, it did, so I sat back and relaxed.

After five minutes of sitting there someone appeared outside the compartment door, they slid the door open and sat down next to me, I knew instantly who it was. There wasn't many people who'd dare to open my compartment door.

"Hello, Lucy! Have a good summer?" Hermione asked me, giving me a one armed hug as she sat next to me. Even though Hermione was the smart one of the class I couldn't help but thank her because she was the one who helped me gain friends when I was younger. Nobody liked me because I was 'Snape's daughter,' but she showed them I was nothing like Snape and before long I managed to gain friends. 

"I had a great summer! What about you?" My idea of a great summer was reading all the books on dad's shelves over and over again, not to mention studying. I didn't have any friends at Spinner's end, just as well too. It wasn't a particularly nice area. 

"Mine was fantastic! I've been studying really hard because don't forget we have our O.W.Ls at the end of this year and I can't bear to fail, if I did I would be extremely upset and would probably never forgive myself."

I laughed, Hermione loved studying, she got teased for it but I think it was nice that she helped me with all my least favourite subjects and I helped her ahead in potions, besides I could make a lot of complicated potions. I've known how to make Potions since I was very young. 

"I would be upset for you too if you failed your O.W.Ls because you study really hard. In fact I know you won't fail because you know everything you need to know and are expected to know...and more!"

"I know, anyway I came here because I wanted to invite you to where we are; I was just passing to get some sweets from the trolley for Ron. He kept moaning so I thought I might get something to shut him up."

"Ron's always hungry, it amazes me how he can eat so much! So where are they?"

"They're about seven compartments away, you'll see Fred and George outside, they said they were going to play a prank on Ron because they interrupted their joke planning the other day at the burrow, it was rather funny."

"OK then! Thanks Hermione! See you in a minute!" I replied, getting up and walking out of the compartment, leaving it empty for someone else to use. Hermione waved a quick goodbye before heading down to the trolley.

I counted the compartments as I went along until I saw Fred and George there laughing really hard at something, Fred was practically on the floor laughing and George was laughing so much he was crying.

"Hello, Fred, George. What have you done to Ron this time?" I asked, amusement playing at my face because Fred and George always found some way to annoy their brother. It was the unwritten rule of brotherhood. Fred looked at me and composed himself a little.

"Lucy! We just put a real spider above Ron and now it's lowering itself down and any minute it should — " Fred was about to finish his sentence when Ron came running out with massive spider on his head and was screaming like a girl.

I joined in laughing with the twins, it was incredily funny even though at the same time it was incredibly cruel. By the time Ron had recovered and made his way back to us with a scowl on his face, we were in hysterics. 

"Did ickle Ronnie enjoy his surprise from his dearest brothers?" George asked trying not to spit in Ron's face.

"Not funny," Ron hissed through his teeth, the spider was absent from his hair. Some people were opening their compartments to look at Ron who's face was going as red as his Weasley red hair.

"It was!" They chorused, matching grins on their faces. 

Ron growled and stepped back inside the compartment and slammed the door, I was surprised that the glass didn't shatter.

Our laughing continued and was enhanced by the look on Ron's face. The train went over a bump and I lost my balance, I knocked into Fred and we both fell over. George then decided to throw himself on top of us.

"George! You big lump! Get off of me!" I giggled.

"What?! I thought we were having a fight?" George wondered innocently.

"No now get off!" I shoved him up and he got up, I got up myself then held out my hand for Fred to take, he grabbed it then dragged me down again, George laughed and Fred put an arm around me, he had quite a strong grip.

"Got you!" He said in a really stupid voice, he stood up with his arm still around me just as Hermione appeared. 

"Fred? Are you going out with Lucy?" Hermione asked curiously, she was a bit surprised. I felt Fred's grip loosen and I was free.

"No I'm not going out with her, she landed on me for laughing so hard," Fred shrugged Hermione's comment away casually

"Fine then," Hermione murmured she didn't look convinced, but slid inside the compartment with a packet of Bertie Botts every flavour beans, Ron almost snatched her hand off when she walked in.