Chapter Two, Meeting the Soulmate

The month staying in The Leaky Cauldron with Hagrid almost seemed to fly by. One moment she was reading all of her books so she knew what to expect with all of her subjects, as well as her Soulmate books, and what being an Heiress entailed, and talking with Hagrid about anything and everything. Then the next thing she knew, it was September first and she was making sure she had everything packed away in her trunk before she even thought about getting ready. Luckily enough she had woken up rather early, filled with nerves and anticipation. Not only was this her first time actually starting in the Magical World, she could meet her Soulmate on the Platform or on the train today and she didn't know what to expect or how to feel.

She was suddenly startled out of her thoughts at seven in the morning as she was locking her trunk, after brushing her teeth and getting changed into a white blouse, a deep blue skater skirt, a silver necklace that had a book charm hanging from it, blue and white floral pattern flats and a blue headband in her hair that was in a french plait, (and putting her pyjamas and necessities back in the trunk).
"Izzy? Are you up and decent? I've brought you some breakfast." Hagrid called through the door as he knocked on it once more.
"You can come in, Hagrid." Isadora called as she stood from kneeling in front of her trunk.
"Ahh, I see you're already packed and dressed to go. Excited?" Hagrid asked, as he came in with a large tray that held two bowls of cereal and two cups of orange juice.

"Though' we could have breakfast together." Hagrid said, as he sat the tray on the table that was in front of the fireplace and besides two large wingback armchairs.
"That sounds perfect, Hagrid. Thank you." Isadora beamed, as she hugged her first friend tightly, Hagrid blushed as he let out a soft chuckle and patted her head gently. "I've been up for a while, too nervous really." She said shyly.
"I thought so. But you have no reason to be nervous, you're going to be amazing and make lots of new friends and Fred will love you, don't worry. Ya can even come have tea in my hut with me if you like? You look really nice, Izzy." Hagrid smiled reassuringly as they ate their breakfasts.

"Thanks Hagrid, I'd like that." Isadora said happily. "Hagrid, you don't think...that Fred will look at me the way others do...do you? I don't want him or anyone really...to look at me like that. I just want them to see me as Izzy, like you do." Isadora said anxiously, playing with her cereal and only looking up when Hagrid's large hand covered her own.
"Some will Izzy." Hagrid sighed once he had her full attention. "But they won't be worth nothing and not worth your time. The ones who treat you normally, those are the real ones, your real friends will only see you and won't care about that nonsense. They will be the ones who you'll be able to count on Izzy."
"Like you." Isadora beamed, making Hagrid's heart swell for the sweet girl before him.

A flash of white suddenly flew past his face and landed on the arm of Isadora's chair, revealing to be Hedwig who rubbed her head against Isadora who happily petted her owl.
"You're my first friend Hagrid." Isadora revealed as she sipped at her orange juice and stroked Hedwig's breast feathers. "And you gave me my beautiful familiar, Hedwig. Thank you for everything, Hagrid. I know you probably had loads of better things to do then stay here with me, so thank you."
"Izzy, I loved staying here with you and getting to know you again, it's no trouble and I'm honoured to be your first friend. But..didn't you have any friends before me?" Hagrid asked concerned, as the anger and worry surged within him more and more with what was revealed to him this past month. He'd definitely be having words with Albus when he got back.

"No. Dudley and his friends drove everyone away from me at my old school, and they all used to make fun of me. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't like me doing better than Dudley in classes either, I'd be locked in my cupboard for weeks with no food if I did better than him in class." Isadora revealed, absent minded as if she wasn't aware of what she was saying.
"Well Izzy, I don't want you to listen to them at Hogwarts and I always want you to do your best, alrigh'?" Hagrid said firmly, smiling when Isadora promised. "Alrigh' then." Hagrid beamed. "We'll be leaving in a bit as we have bit of a journey to Kings Cross, so why don't we both double check everywhere in the room." Hagrid suggested after they finished their breakfast.

***

It was around half ten when Isadora and Hagrid arrived at King's Cross station, Hagrid putting Isadora's trunk and Hedwig's cage on a trolley before they set off through the station. As they were walking through the station a lot of people were staring at them, but more so Hagrid with his large size. Having had enough he snapped at a couple who walked past him and Isadora as they neared platforms nine and ten.
"What're you lookin' at!" Hagrid snapped as he sent a glare at the couple. Stopping for a moment he pulled out his old golden pocket watch, his eyes widening when he realised the time.

"Blimey! Is that the time!?" Hagrid exclaimed when he saw it was 10:50am. "I'm sorry I'm going to have to leave you. Dumbledore will be wanting his..." Hagrid said as he patted his pocket but stopped when he realised what he'd been about to say. "Well he'd wanna be seeing me. Here's your ticket. Now your train leaves in ten minutes, make sure you keep a tight hold of your ticket, Izzy." Hagrid said as he handed over the ticket.
"Hagrid, it says Platform 9 3/4 where..." Isadora asked, trailing off as she noticed Hagrid had disappeared. Her eyes widened as she looked around her for him but noticed he was nowhere to be found. Realising she was going to be late if she didn't get a move on, Isadora continued on her way to platforms nine and ten, hoping she would bump into some other witches and wizards to help her, as it wouldn't be wise to talk to the station workers.

As she was walking down the platform a plump red headed woman walked past her holding the hand of a girl about a year younger than Isadora, and was being followed by four boys, all of whom had red hair. Noticing all of the boys were pushing trolleys with trunks and that one had an owl and the youngest a rat, Isadora decided to follow them. As they were approaching an archway between the two platforms, one of the boys frowned and looked behind him at Isadora only to smile softly at her. She smiled shyly back at him and his twin - who had turned to see what caught his brother's attention - before they turned their attention back onto their mother.

"Percy, you first." The woman said to the oldest boy who had the owl. Isadora watched in confusion as he started running at the wall, just as Isadora thought he was about to crash, he disappeared through the wall. What was going on?
"Fred, you next." The woman said to the shortest of the twins and the boy who had first smiled at her. Isadora suddenly got a feeling of mischief and amusement that wasn't her own, before his twin spoke.
'Could it be? The feeling was just like the book said.' Isadora thought curiously.
"He's not Fred, I am!" The taller twin exclaimed indignantly, but Isadora had a feeling that wasn't the case, even if she hadn't just got those feelings from his brother.

"Honestly woman. You call yourself our mother." The twin who Isadora thinks is Fred, said in mock sadness as he shook his head.
"Oh, sorry George." Their mother apologised.
"I'm only joking. I am Fred." Fred said with a smirk, to their mother's ire, before he ran at the wall followed quickly by George. Most likely wanting to escape before their mother said anything.
"Excuse me." Isadora asked politely as she came forward.
"Are you alright, dear?" The mother asked, concerned, wondering where the little girl's parents were. But then she noticed the scar, and smiled sadly at her. She looked just like her mother.
"Could...could you..." Isadora stuttered nervously, she never was good with strangers.

"How to get onto the platform." The woman asked helpfully, smiling softly at the young girl. "It's Ron's first time to Hogwarts, as well." The woman said, pointing to her remaining son, who was much taller than Isadora and had the rat. He smiled at Isadora who smiled shyly in return as his mother continued. "All you have to do is run straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go before Ron, dear."
"Thank you." Isadora said, before taking a deep breath and running at the wall, she closed her eyes just as she reached it, expecting a crash. But there was none.

Opening her eyes she realised she'd done it. There was a big red sign with golden lettering reading, 'Platform 9 3/4', a scarlet steam engine billowing steam onto the crowded platform as people mingled about meeting their friends, loading their things onto the train and saying goodbye to their families. Isadora smiled as she walked down the platform happily. It wasn't all a dream; she was getting away from the Dursley's and going to Hogwarts. Finding an empty carriage she carefully loaded Hedwig and her rucksack onto the train, popping them on the seat. She gave Hedwig a stroke through the bars before hopping back off to get her trunk on. But it was much too heavy for her to lift up (even with the Featherlight Charm her arms shook with exertion), and she ended up dropping it on her foot. Twice.

Fred, who was with his twin brother, George and their friends suddenly got a sharp pain in his foot as if someone had dropped a trunk on it, and knew it was his Soulmate Isadora Potter.
"What is it Freddie?" George asked, when Fred gasped in pain.
"I just got a sharp pain in my foot. I think the girl who was behind us was Isadora." Fred explained.
"Let's go help her then." George decided, just as Fred got a second sharp pain in his foot, splitting up the twins quickly searched the platform.

Isadora sighed frustrated as she couldn't lift her trunk up onto the train, her hair starting to change colour with her frustration.
"Need some help?" A voice asked to her left, startling her.
"Please." Isadora asked one of the twins from the platform, George she thinks.
"Fred!" George shouted, attracting his twin's attention who seemed to sigh in relief when he saw Isadora with George. "Help us with the trunk." George said, and the three started pushing the trunk onto the train until it was safely tucked away in a corner.
"Thank you." Isadora said gratefully as she secured her headband as it had been sliding off her head, which showed off her Soulmate mark.

"Isadora?" Fred questioned, they had figured it out last year after reading that book.
"Yes." Isadora answered hesitantly, her shoulders tense. But she relaxed slightly when Fred rolled up his right sleeve and showed her the matching mark. "Fred Weasley." She said happily, she was so happy to find him, which shocked Fred and George. Not that she was happy, but that she knew who he was.
"Gringotts did a test when Hagrid took me on my birthday. Your name was on it under Soulmate. I didn't really understand, so I got loads of books." Isadora answered their unasked question.

"That makes things easier. Izzy, I'd like you to meet my younger and uglier twin, George." Fred introduced smiling when Isadora giggled.
"I think you've got that wrong, Freddie. I feel sorry for Izzy having to have your ugly mug as a Soulmate." George argued, making Isadora giggle some more.
"Izzy, I want you to know if you ever want to talk about something or need to talk to someone you can always come to either me or George." Fred said seriously for a moment. He hated feeling all the pain she's gone through over the years and wanted her to come to him with anything, even if it would take time. He wanted her away from whoever she was living with, and it wasn't good if given the fact she was looking at him with wide fearful eyes now.
"O-okay. Thank you F-Freddie." Isadora stuttered.

Before more could be said a voice floated through the open window.
"Fred? George? Where are you?" Their mother shouted for them. Fred looked rather reluctant to leave so both he and George told her they'd see her in a bit and hopped off the train heading for their mother. While Isadora let Hedwig out of her cage as promised, who settled onto the armrest beside the window where Isadora sat, she got the book out of her bag to finish reading but her attention was caught by what Fred's family, the Weasleys her mind supplied, were talking about.

"There you are." Their mother said, sounding relieved. "Ron, you've got something on your nose." She said as she tried to wipe it off.
"Mum! Gerroff!" Ron complained squirming in her hold.
"Mum, you know that girl who was behind us. Guess who she is." George said not even bothering to tease Ron, much to his surprise.
"Who?" Their mother asked, confused.
"My Soulmate, Isadora Potter." Fred said happily.
"Is she? Oh, I'm so happy for you Freddie. That poor girl is all alone." Their mother sighed sadly, before she suddenly became stern at the young girl who was asking to go see Isadora again.

"Be quiet Ginny. She isn't someone to gawk at, she's family. And I don't want either of you boys, you included Ron, to ask her anything about that night, she doesn't need that!" Their mother said giving each boy a stern look.
"Mum! I would never!" Fred exclaimed indignantly. "I don't think she's treated well Mum. We need to get her to live with us."
"Why do you say that?" Their mother asked with trepidation, making Isadora shrink further down in her seat. How do they know?
"I've been feeling her pain for years, like I told you and Dad, but I don't think it's from playing. I get this horrible pain in my back like someone was hitting it with something." Fred explained tightly.
"Oh that poor dear." Their mother gasped with tears in her eyes. "I'll speak to your father tonight." She assured him.

Just then the oldest boy joined them already dressed in his school uniform with a red shiny badge pinned to his chest.
"I can't stay long, mother. I'm sitting with the Prefects." The boy said pompously, his chest sticking out. But he soon deflated when he noticed everyone's sour mood. "What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
"Fred found his Soulmate, Percy. It's Isadora Potter and he thinks she's not looked after well." Ginny explained to her big brother.
"Oh." Percy the Prefect said, unsure what else he was supposed to say. "I'm happy for you Fred." He amended after clearing his throat.

Just then the conductor blew his whistle signalling for everyone to get onto the train as it would be leaving shortly.
"You best be getting on the train." Their mother said hugging and kissing her children goodbye, making a small ball of jealousy bloom in Isadora's chest. "Percy, look after all of your brothers and Isadora. All of you look out for her and each other, actually. Have fun but, Fred, George behave yourselves. If I get another letter saying you've blown up a toilet or..." Their mother warned them seriously.
"We've never blown up a toilet before." Fred started.
"Great idea! Thanks Mum." George exclaimed.

"Don't you dare!" Their mother fumed, shooing them towards the train as Ginny started to cry.
"Don't cry Ginny." Fred said.
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat." George continued, making their sister laugh and their mother to reprimand them. As the train started moving, Isadora turned away from the window and opened her book 'Soulmates and their Marks' by Artemis Higgen. She's nearly finished it. She has read all of her school books, the Heiress book, the Magical Creature books and the other two books on Soulmates. Hedwig gave a loud hoot as Isadora stopped stroking her as she became engrossed in her book.

"Sorry Hedwig." Isadora apologised and started stroking her again just as a knock sounded on the door moments before it opened.
"Sorry, everywhere's full. Do you mind?" Ron asked, looking at the small girl who's feet didn't touch the floor. Ron suddenly felt protective of her, she was just so tiny. Even smaller than Ginny.
"Not at all." Isadora smiled.
"Thanks." Ron smiled as he pulled his trunk in and stowed it away along with his rat. "I'm Ron by the way. Ron Weasley." Ron introduced himself.
"I'm Isadora Potter, But you can call me Izzy. Your brothers and Hagrid do." Isadora said softly.

"You've met Hagrid?" A voice asked from the door. Isadora and Ron looked over to the door and saw Fred and George standing there, George being the one that spoke.
"Hi Fred, Hi George." Isadora said shyly with a light blush.
"Hi Izzy." Fred and George greeted coming in and sitting next to Ron, opposite Isadora.
"Yeah like I said earlier, Hagrid took me away from the Dursley's. He gave me my letter and took me to Diagon Alley and explained everything to me. He even gave me my first birthday cake and brought me my first present, Hedwig." Isadora explained all in one breath. "He said she's my familiar, and he paid for us to stay at The Leaky Cauldron for a month." Isadora had grown rather attached to Hagrid during the month she was with him.

"Who are the Dursley's?" Ron asked, confused.
"They're my aunt, cousin and uncle. They're Muggles and don't like magic very much." Isadora explained uncomfortably, she didn't want to talk about what happened in Privet Drive. Fred, sensing her discomfort, decided to change the subject.
"George and I are going to go see our friend, Lee Jordan. He has a tarantula. Can we come back later, Izzy?" Fred asked, now he'd found her he wanted to be her friend first and foremost.
"Of course we'll see you later." Isadora said happily, grateful the subject had been dropped. "How many brothers do you have, Ron?" Isadora asked curiously after the twins had left.

"Five." Ron answered, he would have been gloomy about it having only hand-me-downs all his life, but after hearing what Isadora just said his perspective had changed a little. "Bill is the oldest, he works in Egypt as a Curse Breaker for Gringotts. Charlie, the second eldest, works in Romania with dragons. Then there's Percy, Fred and George, me and then Ginny." Ron explained.
"I wish I had older brothers." Isadora sighed sadly.
"You do now." Ron insisted, which made Isadora beam at him. "What're you reading?" He asked, and Isadora showed him the cover.
"Do you mind if I finish it? I've only got one more chapter." Isadora asked nervously. "Thank you." She said gratefully, when Ron shook his head.

Half an hour later, Isadora had just finished the book and was about to put it away, when there was a knock on the door as an elderly woman who was pushing a cart full of sweets opened the door smiling at them.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" She asked kindly.
"No thanks. I'm all set." Ron said holding up a wrapped corn beef sandwich, though he didn't look too happy. Looking at her new friend Isadora quickly put the book away and took a few coins out of her purse.
"We'll take a bit of everything please." Isadora said.
"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed, getting up to help Isadora collect the sweets. At that moment Fred and George returned as well.
"You're back." Ron said surprised.
"We said we would Ronnikins." Fred said with a smirk as Ron grumbled.

"Would you both like some?" Isadora asked Fred and George, pointing to the pile of sweets between her and Ron.
"Thanks Izzy." They said, as they collected some sweets and sat in Ron's previous seat. For the next few hours the boys and Isadora got to know each other, as they laughed and introduced Isadora to all the different Magical sweets, when there was a knock on the door by a girl with bushy brown hair and who was already in her robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost his." She asked, looking around the compartment when her eyes locked on Isadora. "Holy cricket! You're Isadora Potter." She gasped, making Isadora uncomfortable, which caused Fred to stand in front of her glaring at the girl.

"It's okay Freddie." Isadora said, putting her hand on his arm making him relax slightly. "Have you tried asking a Prefect to help you?" Isadora asked kindly.
"Why didn't I think of that!" The girl complained. "I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?" She asked, looking at the three boys.
"Fred Weasley."
"George Weasley." Fred and George said in unison.
"I'm...Ron Weasley." Ron said with his mouthful.
"Pleasure." Hermione said, though she looked vaguely disgusted at Ron's manners. "You four better change into your robes. I suspect we'll be arriving soon." Hermione said as she turned to leave but turned back towards Ron. "You have dirt on your nose, did you know? Just there." She said pointing to the right side of her nose.

"Are we?" Isadora asked nervously.
"No, not for awhile yet." George said as they all sat back down and continued their conversation. However, Isadora was left feeling slightly surreal, she was happy to be going to Hogwarts as she got to connect with her parents for the first time, and she got to get away from the Dursleys. But she was also scared. Scared that it was in actual fact all a dream and she'd wake up back in her cupboard or that there'd been a mistake and she wasn't a witch and they'll send her back. She didn't want to go back there; she had no one there. Here; she had friends for the first time in her life and a Soulmate. Which she was still rather curious about despite reading the books, she supposed it hadn't all sunk in yet or she was still too young to fully understand it but whatever it was she knew she was on a new adventure now.