Amethyst Rosewood and The Joys of Independence by Melissa Nichols (ebooks that read to you .TXT) 📕

"All right, everyone, here we go." Harry grabbed the group's attention as they neared platforms nine and ten. Harry patted his oldest on the shoulder. "Why don't you show them how it's done, James?"

James nodded at his father, moved over so he was lined up with the barrier and against the pillar at his back. He adjusted his grip on his cart and started running.

Running....at the barrier?! Bloody hell, he's gonna crash!

"Percy!" Amy whispered, tugging on Percy's sleeve. Right before her eyes, James disappeared. Into thin air. He actually passed through the bricks! What the heck?!!

"I know, Amy. It's okay. This is how we get onto the platform. Keeps it hidden from Muggles."

"Albus, Rose, why don't you two go next? Then Hugo and Lily."

One by one, their group disappeared behind the brick walls with nary a sound, hitch or strange look from the surrounding Muggles.

Finally, only the Muggleborns and adults were left. Harry turned back to the group. Amy clutched herself closer to Percy with a simple grab to his sleeve. "Percy, Amy, you first."

Amy maneuvered the cart into position, barely aware of what she was doing. Staring at the brick wall in front of her, fear began to rise. Her heart raced, her breathing became quick and shallow. Every instinct she had was telling her not to do this; she'd crash, and then she and Arcane would be hurt. But she had to do this if she wanted to get to Hogwarts.

There's no way! It's a brick wall! She can't just disappear into it, she'll crash.

But Hogwarts.

Brick. Wall!

Amy closed her eyes while she continued to wrangle with her instincts. She felt a hand on her shoulder and then a whispering, calm voice.

"Breathe, Amy." Harry said, his tone carrying empathy. Immediately, she felt her heart calm down and her breathing gentle. "I was raised by Muggles, too. I know how scary this is. But it'll be okay." She felt Harry's hands come to either side of hers on the cart, his arms spread around her to give her space, but he was still close enough to reassure her she wasn't alone.

He was helping her.

"Keep your eyes closed. I'll tell you when we're on the other side."

"I'm okay now; I can open my eyes. But please don't leave." She opened her eyes and looked at the barrier again. There was no fear now, she was back in control.

"Ready?"

"Let's go." Amy pushed the cart with all her weight, but it wouldn’t move; it was stuck in a crack. Harry lent his weight, they rocked the cart backward, shoved it forward and got it rolling. Faster now. Faster. Faster. Nearly there. Arcane yowled in fear. They're gonna crash!

And then nothing. Pure darkness. Two more strides and the darkness gave way to light, bricks, and a busy train platform. Harry expertly guided the cart to the left, then a right and down the walkway to the other children. They'd made it! They were on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters!

Harry let go to let Amy drift to a stop on her own. Rose and Albus came running up to her, congratulating her on making it onto the platform. Amy heard Arcane mewl weakly and then felt a thump on the cage. She checked on her cat to find her asleep on her pillow. Poor thing must have fainted.

"Amy!" She twisted to find Mary and Percy came around the turn. "That was so wild!"

"Were you scared, too?"

"Not after watching you go. You were more scared than I was, and you got through fine."

"Thanks to Harry. Otherwise, I would have panicked and ran back home."

"The train leaves in a half an hour." Harry gained the children's attention. "Let's get the carts to the baggage area."

"Oh, can I keep Arcane with me on the train?"

"Yes, you can. " Hermione answered. "Just keep her crate with you on the train and put it with your baggage when you disembark."

"This way to baggage." Percy led the way. While they walked, he handed Amy her train ticket and she tucked it into her pocket.

"Percy, will I need anything tonight?"

"Just your black robe and wand. You won't need the full uniform until your first day of class on Monday."

The baggage area, as it turned out, was on the extreme opposite side of the train, just a few feet from where the platform ended. Amy noticed several wizards walking up and down the length of the train, each escorting a multitude of hovering trunks.

The children dropped their carts off on the fringes of the area, someone reached for her things. Amy quickly dug out her one-night black robes and her wand, and separated Arcane's travel cage from the trunk.

The group began to make their way toward the front of the train when Rose grabbed her attention. She pointed to a family of blondes, two parents and a son with almost-white-blond hair that was severely gelled into place. Amy didn't like the attitude the parents were giving off, and the sneers the husband gave their small group. The sheer disgust in his face made Amy shrink away, hiding herself slightly behind Percy.

"That's the Malfoys. Draco, Astoria, and Scorpius. Scorpius is in our year. Both Astoria and Draco were in Slytherin, both families were for centuries. No doubt Scorpius will be as well." Rose muttered to Amy, her voice thick with animosity.

"Why do they look so mean?"

"Because they're purebloods and they're rich. Think they're better than everyone else."

"Percy told me about people like them."

"Dad wants me to compete with Scorpius for smartest wizard in our year, like how Mom competed against Draco."

"Really? Did your mom win?"

"For their gender's rankings, yes, but they always tied for the general rankings. On top of that, Draco was pretty awful to them. There's a lot of bad blood on both side."

"That's awful. I didn't see any of that sneer in Scorpius. Maybe we can be friends."

"I wouldn't hold my breath. In the wizarding world, the children are often the same as their parents. Come on. We should get aboard and find our seats." Rose guided her towards an open door about halfway down the train.

Amy nodded, looking around and noticed all the black, first year robes students were slipping on now that they were out of sight of the Muggles. "This is gonna be a big class, huh?"

"Your class is a bit smaller than usual." James explained from a nearby window. "Most classes are two hundred strong. Find a seat on the benches during the Sorting because you'll be standing for quite a while."

Amy laughed nervously, turning back towards the adults. Most of them were there, but Harry was talking to Albus. She found Percy and raced to Percy to hug him, catching him by surprise. He bent down to hug her properly. "Thanks for everything, Percy! I promise I'm going to study hard and be a good witch."

"Don't forget to have fun."

The train whistle blew; The fifteen-minute warning. She gave Percy one more squeeze, and then gave a special wave to the other adults, thanking Harry especially for his help with the barrier. They waved back and she hurried aboard, following Rose to a compartment Mary had managed to snag.

Amy closed the door and let Arcane out of her cage to walk around and greet everyone. The kitten got plenty of scratches and strokes, but it wasn't long before she came back to rest on her witch's shoulder just as the train began to move. Amy watched everything out of the window. Parents' faces passed by her slowly, then faster. The platform was gone quickly, but it took another moment or two for the station to be lost.

Bloody hell, she was really going. This is real.

"We're really on our way." Someone muttered.

"Bloody hell." Amy padded her pocket and pulled out her wand. She stared at it in amazement, the physical representation of the life she was embarking on. "We're on our way to Hogwarts."

Mary chimed in next. "A special school for special kids."

"A whole year away from our parents, we’re responsible for ourselves." James continued, a smile splitting his face even though he was going into his third year.

"Going to class to learn about potions and magical animals and spells." Rose smiled excitedly.

"Making friends, and probably an enemy or two." Mary muttered.

"This is going to be great." Albus grinned.

Amy, Mary, Albus and Rose sat in silence for a few minutes, each absorbing the turn in their lives. Adjusting, accepting. Then they broke out laughing raucously. Finally, James stood, which grabbed everyone's attention.

"The conductor's nearby." James explained casually as he fished a hand into his pocket. "Everyone got your tickets?" He held his up, prompting the other kids to search for theirs.

The conductor was a room away now, so Amy opened the door.

A few minutes later, the conductor had checked everyone's tickets and ambled on his way.

"Well," James stood and grabbed his knapsack. "I'm going to find my friends."

"Oh, are the girls' lavatories that way as well?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, they are. Come on, I'll show all of you. That way you can find it yourself."

"Oh, James." Rose scolded her cousin. "We're not being that much of a bother."

"No, but I haven't seen my friends all summer. Can't find them with all of you hanging on me, now can I?" He opened the door and briskly led the way to the lavatories, leaving the first years to follow him.

Ten minutes later, the first years returned. James had met up with his friends, leaving the first years on their own. No one seemed to mind as they quickly lost themselves in conversation. That is, until a certain platinum blond came knocking. Rose asked her not to open the door, but everyone else disagreed; they had no reason to reject Scorpius.

"Good morning." Scorpius said, extending his hand. "I'm Scorpius Malfoy. Nice to meet you."

"Hi, I'm Amy." She shook his hand with a smile. "This is Albus, Rose and Mary. And my kitten, Arcane." Arcane mewled. "Would you like to join us? We have an extra spot."

"Sure, thank you." He nodded and Amy moved over so he could enter the compartment. While Scorpius shook hands with everyone, Rose plastered herself against the wall. Scorpius sat down next to Amy and Arcane came out of hiding to accept the petting he offered.

"So, you're a first year too. Are you excited about going to Hogwarts?" Amy asked Scorpius.

"Yeah, I am. Rose, Albus," He gained Albus' attention, but Rose barely looked his way. “I know how our respective parents got along - or, rather, didn't, I guess. And I want to say that just because our parents weren't friends, that doesn't mean we can't be."

"Would it interest you to know that these two," Rose gestured to Amy and Mary. "are Muggleborn?"

"I don't care about that. Anyone who has magic deserves to learn, regardless of blood status." He replied immediately. "My father is a prat. I'm not going to grow up to be like him."

"Well," Albus was next to speak. "In my book, you're already better than he is. Let's be friends." Albus extended his hand towards the now-shocked Malfoy, who happily accepted.

"I know I'm not part of this conversation, but from what I've heard about your father and everything I've already seen of you, I think you've proven you're not like him. I'd like to be your friend, too." Amy said, echoed by Arcane with a mewl. Scorpius grinned and nodded enthusiastically. Mary also accepted him. Smiling happily, Scorpius tried again to talk to Rose.

"Rose? What do you say?" He pleaded gently. Rose considered him, and it was plain to see that the war inside her was strong, Amy could tell.

All she said was "We'll see." much to Scorpius' displeasure. But he nodded and remained calm.

"Very well. I hope I pass your tests."

Rose hmphed and moved closer to the wall, clearly done talking.

"So," Amy tried to change the subject. "Which House are you hoping to be in, Scorpius?"

"Either Slytherin or Gryffindor, I think.”

"Me, too." Albus chimed in. "I can't decide which