Something to Remember: Delia's Story

Something to Remember: Delia's Story

*Chapter One*

"Aye, miss, I'm afraid there is no 'Platform and Three Quarters'," a young train conductor told Delia. He was tall and lanky and appeared to have a smirk permanently etched into his face.

"There must be a mistake! I have here a ticket to 'Platform and Three Quarters!" Delia said frantically, thrusting the small ticket under his nose.

"No such thing," he sneered and lumbered off, looking back over his shoulder at her with that annoying smirk.

"Service these days is so," she said, not bothering to finish her trail of thought, ending with an exasperated sigh. Delia looked down at her ticket once more. It was real. It was authentic. Surely there was a Platform and ¾ here at King's Cross? Fear bubbled up inside of her, adding to her already mixed emotions of anxiety and first-day-of-school jitters. She maneuvered her trolley around, her kitten, Ashton, perched atop it. He mewed quietly at her as she wandered around in search of that blasted train platform.

"This is crazy," Delia muttered in an undertone to herself. She stopped at the barrier separating Platforms Nine and Ten and unfolded a parchment letter she had pocketed--the letter that started it all. She looked it over and placed it back in her jean pocket. That's when se saw a gathering of kids, all around her age, and having trolleys with items similar to hers piled on them. Many of them had flaming red hair, which helped them stand out against the hustle and bustle of the Muggle passersby. All of them actually--except one. He had black hair, and amongst the redheaded group, he sort of stood out like a sore thumb. Delia watched them and came to a conclusion that the boy with the dark hair was simply a friend of the family.

"Here we are, Platform Nine and Three Quarters!" a woman with a kind face (That must be their mother, Delia thought as she spoke.) said. Her words registered into Delia's mind and she turned around to look at the brick barrier the woman was pointing to. The sign 'Platform 9 and ¾' was nowhere to be seen. But Delia was certain that that was where the lady was referring.

All the kids grinned and pulled up their trolleys to face the barrier. Delia wondered what they were doing and observed.

"Fred, you first, dear," the mother said. "Then you next, George."

A tall boy walked quickly forward, followed by his brother. Delia noticed that they were twins, identical ones at that.

"Oy! You there! Get outta the way!" Fred shouted at her, for she was clearly blocking the way.

"But--but there's nothing behind me. Just brick wall. What're you doing?" Delia asked them, confused.

"Off to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, o' course!" George piped in. "This is the way in."

"But you'll crash!"

"New here, aren't you?" Fred said.

Delia was about to answer when their mum came forward.

"Fred! George! What's the hold up? The train leaves in ten minutes!"

"She's new here, Mum," George said, gesturing towards Delia, who nodded slowly.

"Oh, are you dear? I suppose you are a transfer student?"

Delia grinned nervously. "Nope. I haven't been schooled in wizardry much. I've lived with my aunt, who I've had to take care of until I got this letter..."

"Well, you're sure to fit in fine. Just watch out for Filch--he's the caretaker," George piped in.

"And that Snape, the Potions master, he's as slimy as anyone can get," Fred added.

"And that Giant Squid--''

"And the Forbidden Forest--''

"And the Whomping Willow--''

Delia's eyes widened at the mention of all these names, feeling even more nervous than ever.

"Oh, we've forgotten our manners!" the mum suddenly said. She gestured towards the twins and said, "This here's Fred and that's George; that's Ginny, my only daughter; and Ron's over there with his friend Harry. And I'm Molly Weasley."

"Name's Delia Matthews."

Delia's first impression of the Weasley family was not unlike others before her. She had thought they looked a bit, well, poor, but on a second glance, they seemed much more than that. She could sense the closeness of the family, and found herself wanting to hang with them once she got to the Hogwarts castle.

"Well, we certainly must be going. Delia, you can tag along--all you've got to do is just walk straight through the barrier and you're through! Got it, dear?"

She nodded, wondering just how they were going to get through the brick wall.

Fred and George waved cheerily at her then pushed their carts into the walls and vanished with one last wink. Delia blinked and looked back at the others. Mrs. Weasley smiled encouragingly at her and nodded. Delia swallowed and swiveled her trolley around to face the platforms.

"Ginny, go along with her," Delia heard the mother say. The petite girl, no more than a year younger than her, went and stood beside her.

"Ready when you are," Ginny said with a small smile.

They looked at each other, both grinning, and walked into the wall and onto Platform 9 and ¾. Delia looked around in awe at the scarlet steam engine before her, mouth hanging open. Her black kitten mewed, it's eyes alight what with all the children and teens her age roaming the entire area. She was about to say something to Ginny when someone grabbed her shoulders suddenly and said, "BOO!"

Delia nearly jumped out of her skin and spun around, looking into Fred--or was it George? --Well, she was looking into one of their blue eyes and sighed with relief.

"You nearly scared the bejeezus out of me!" she said.

"The bejeezus? What's that?" the twin said.

"Sorry, it's an old saying from my aunt," Delia said, her eyes downcast.

"Fred!"

A voice she hadn't heard yet was heard behind him and they both looked about. It was the other brother, Ron, and his friend Harry, whom Delia recognized right away and was surprised she hadn't before.

"What is it, Ickle Ronniekins?" Fred asked.

She grinned at his name for Ron.

"Who's she?" Ron said in a lower tone, but not low enough so Delia couldn't hear.

"Delia...what was your last name?" Fred said, drawing a blank.

"Matthews."

Ron and Harry nodded.

"You'll be transferring as a--fifth year student?" Harry asked her. "We'll be fifth years too."

"Oh, I suppose so. I've never been to a wizard school yet, so I hope I can keep up with you all!"

This was true. Ron and Harry being fifth years, they would know tons more than she did. Delia could only hope that she would be able to keep up with their class.

"I wonder what house you'll be in," Ginny said suddenly.

"House?"

"At Hogwarts there are four different houses us students are divided into: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. We're all in Gryffindor!"

Delia nodded, hoping to be in Gryffindor with them all.

"Any house is fine, but I wouldn't fancy ever being in Hufflepuff--or Slytherin for that matter," Fred commented, pulling a face.

"What's wrong with Slytherin?" Delia said curiously.

"They turn up the most Dark wizards than any other house," Ron and Ginny said at once.

Delia shook her head. "I'd hate to be in Slytherin then!"

After loading up their belongings, Delia, the Weasleys, and Harry Potter boarded the Hogwarts Express. Eager to learn more about the school, she stuck with Ron, Harry, and Ginny as Fred had went ahead to a compartment with his brother and their friends.

No sooner had the four settled down that another Gryffindor pal, Hermione Granger, joined them.

"Hello, Hermione!" Ron and Harry and Ginny said happily. Delia smiled at her and greeted her as well.

"Hi! You're new here, aren't you?" Hermione said kindly to her.

"Yep, but I'm slowly catching on. Harry, Ginny, and Ron have been telling me all sorts of things about Hogwarts. I'm excited and very nervous at the same time!" Delia said breathlessly, grinning broadly.

"Well, you'll enjoy your stay here, I'm sure!" Hermione said.

They all talked animatedly about the upcoming school year and only stopped when an old witch with a snack cart pulled up to their compartment. Delia purchased her favorite Chocolate Frogs and munched on them as she listened to stories of her new friends' pasts.

This year is certainly going to be interesting! She thought happily. Hermione's real nice--I think I could actually end up being one of her best friends! And Ginny too! Harry seems awful nice; and seems stronger than he lets people on. He's been through so much... he's unbelievable! And Ron, he's a character! Funny and clever, he is. And Fred and George--aren't they just the mischief-makers? Definitely fun people to get along with. I can't wait till I get to meet the rest of the kids here!