MURDER ON THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS!

SEPTEMBER 1977

6th Year

• • • •

"The body—the cage—is everything of the most respectable—but through the bars, the wild animal looks out." - Agatha Christie, Murder On The Orient Express

Sat next to the window in the thirteenth carriage from the back of the Hogwarts Express, her nose deep in a book, sat Leah Sherlock, waiting for one of her friends to open the door any second.

3.5 seconds, to be precise.

"Morning, Emily." The Ravenclaw smirked, not taking her eyes off of her book.

"Morning, Leah." The younger girl chuckled, sitting across from the other girl.

"I would ask how your Summer was, but-"

"But you already know," The Hufflepuff nodded with a smirk, receiving one from her friend - who finally took her eyes off of her book, "Go on then."

Leah studied the girl, her eyes trailing over Emily's high cheekbones, freckled face, beautiful blue eyes, her classic charming smile and dark brown, curly hair.

Leah Sherlock smirked, "You went on holiday, I'd say to Spain, no Greece. You enjoyed it, which is unusual, as you normally find any holiday with all four of your siblings as unbearable. I'm guessing you met someone. It could be a friend, but I'd say that the connection goes a little deeper than that. Before your holiday, however, you spent your fifteenth birthday at your grandparents' house, which you enjoyed, yet hated at the same time." The girl observed.

Emily laughed, shaking her head in amusement, "How did you know all of those little details?"

"Well, you're usually quite pale and currently have a tan, meaning you went somewhere hot," Leah explained, "My first guess was Spain, as that's where your family usually go, however, as it was your parents' twenty-five year wedding anniversary this August and your mother's favourite country is Greece, that is the more plausible option. Now, I deduced the meeting with your special friend by observing your wider than normal smile and that twinkle in your eye when recalling your time in Greece. And trust me, I will be asking about them later. Furthermore, I suspected your mediocre fifteenth birthday at your grandparents' by that - and excuse me for saying this - atrocious wool knit jumper - which I'm assuming you're wearing because your Grandmother knitted it and she took you to the platform today, juxtaposed by the first edition copy of The Secret Garden that is currently poking out of your bag, a gift I know that you've wanted for a long time." She finished.

"I've missed you doing that." The fifth year grinned.

"Well, it'll your turn in three, two, one." Leah counted down, and the compartment door slid open to reveal Warren Jarver and Felix Harielle.

"Females." Felix greeted with a smile, sitting next to Leah, as Warren took a seat next to Emily.

"Males." Leah nodded at her friends.

"Right, Leah, get it out of the way." Warren told his fellow Ravenclaw.

"Nope." Leah shook her head, continuing with reading her book.

"'Nope'?" Warren asked, raising an eyebrow, "Who are you and what have you done with Leah Sherlock?"

Emily grinned at the older boy, "It's my turn today."

Felix turned to the Hufflepuff, "Go ahead."

Leah watched Emily carefully as the girl studied the two boys.

The girl's eyes scanned over Warren's signature dark brown curls, searched his light brown eyes, the familiar mole mark above his mouth. She then turned her attention to Felix, narrowing her eyes at the Scottish boy's athletic build, light brown hair and stunning blue eyes.

"Well, you spent the Summer together," Emily slowly started, making the corner of Leah's mouth twitch upwards slightly, "I know that, because you always spend your Summer holidays together. Felix, you trained a lot, which you would do normally, but this Summer it was different. It's your last year at Hogwarts and you're desperate to get on the Quidditch team. And you, Warren... you got a new pet, a dog maybe, judging by the fur on your trousers," Emily turned to Leah with a hopeful look, "Did I get that right?"

Leah nodded with a small smile, "Yes. Although it was a cat, not a dog."

Warren nodded, "I did get a cat, not a dog."

Felix turned to Leah with a confused look, "How'd you know."

"By the looks of the fur," Leah shrugged, "And at the height that it stops at, it's either a cat or a very small dog."

Her friends nodded, impressed.

"That and the fact that when he came in, Warren put a cat basket down at his feet." The girl added, nodding towards the said basket on the floor by Warren's feet.

"That's cheating!" Felix exclaimed.

"No, it's called using my eyes and observing." Leah objected, lifting her eyes up from her book.

Emily, Felix and Warren rolled their eyes amusement at the girl, before starting a conversation about their Summers.

Tuning them out, Leah glanced at the door of the compartment, a small smile forming on her face at the sight of a familiar brunette passed them, as they were on their prefect rounds with seventh year and head girl, Lily Evans.

Claudia Watson smiled at her partner in crime, winking at her with her stunning, bright blue eyes.

Leah leaned back in her seat, once again turning her attention back to the book in her hands, hanging onto Henry James' every word in 'The Turn of the Screw', having a feeling that this year was going to be fun.