19 Hogwarts Express

The Hogwarts Express darts through London, and the townhomes flash through the windows. Eventually, the landscape changes to the open fields as Severus and Lily grow bored of watching the passing scenery. With the silence feeling overwhelming, Lily a bit nervously chews on her lip. A bad habit of Lily's.

Sensing Lily's nerves, Severus tries to distract his best friend. "Which house do you think you'll be sorted into Lily?"

Lily's redhead goes up in thought, her emerald eyes scrunched up in concentration. "I don't know, but I hope it really doesn't matter."

"Mm," Severus chimed.

Putting down the book, she was reading, Rowan says. "I will eat Owyn if I can't accurately guess which house, you will be sorted in." The poor owl hoots loudly protesting the bet. He had no desire to be eaten!

Severus folds his arms in disbelief over his chest. "Fine, what house will Lily and I be sorted into?"

With a confident expression, Rowan points at Lily, "Gryffindor." And then at Severus, "Slytherin." And then at herself, "No idea."

Severus chokes in shock at his twin's confident response. "No way, Gryffindor is known for brawns over brains!"

"No, Gryffindor is known for bravery, and isn't Lily brave?" Rowan smirked as Lily's eyes dangerously narrowed to a point.

Severus tactfully retreats in a panic. "You're right, Gryffindor is a great place to be! I wouldn't mind joining it either!"

"You won't," Rowan fearlessly retorted earning her a glare from Severus. Severus pointed turned away ignoring Rowan and engages Lily in discussing their class subjects. Not that Rowan cared, returning back to read her book.

Lily and Severus hadn't been chatting for long when the door to their compartment slides open. A charming, attractive dark-haired boy with hazel eyes and unruly hair is followed closely by a lustrous black-haired boy with fair skin, gray eyes, and an air of casual elegance that would make many maidens at Hogwarts hearts swoon. Seeing two empty spots, the attractive boy with hazel eyes and untidy dark hair points at the seats. "Are these two seats taken?"

"No, feel free to sit down," Lily politely answered.

Rowan peeks over her book hiding a smile behind her book cover. Severus appeared rather pleased with himself for having taken the seat next to Lily. On the other hand, Rowan sat directly across from them. The handsome boy with surly features takes a seat next to Severus, while the dark-haired boy with untidy hair takes a seat next to Rowan.

With a cheerful cocky smile, the untidy haired boy says, "The name's James Potter, and all you are?"

Lily amiably smiles back, "Lily Evans."

"Severus Prince," Severus said with a curt nod.

"Sirius Black," Sirius grinned with a lazy head nod.

They all turn towards Rowan, who reluctantly sets her book down. "Rowan Prince," pointing at Severus. "His older twin sister."

"Tch," Severus clicked his tongue in annoyance at being introduced in such a manner. It was so embarrassing!

A loud yawn escapes from Rowan. She hadn't slept very well last night. Her dreams had been filled with nightmares. Her eyes unconsciously flicker to James Potter. The boy lacked his trademark round glasses. Then again, he didn't gain them until his 5th at Hogwarts. Strange, one would think upon a closer evaluation.

Seeing Rowan's tired expression, Severus arches his brow. "You can't be sleepy, Rowan. I know for a fact you slept last night."

Ignoring Severus, Rowan leans back against her seat. "Mm-, wake me up when the lady with the cart comes at half past noon," and closed her eyes to take a nap.

James blinks in surprise at seeing the pale girl with long raven hair and midnight indigo-colored eyes so casually take a nap in front of them without any trace of embarrassment. Sirius snickers, "Well, I guess someone finds us rather boring."

Severus sighs in exasperation. "I apologize for my twin sister's lack of manners, but she has always been like this."

"I know what you mean, siblings can be a real pain," Sirius earnestly agreed to earn an understanding grin from Severus. The two boys instantly bond over this rather important shared fact.

"I know exactly, what you mean I have an annoying little brother," Sirius added.

"Does your younger brother always want to share whenever it's convenient?" Severus pointedly remarked.

"Yes!" Sirius said with a roll of his eyes. "And then when I don't share, he complains to mother and father and I'm the one who always gets in trouble!"

Severus eyes Sirius with genuine pity in his eyes. "Well, you have my most sincere condolences." Sirius sighs in agreement as Severus lets out a small sigh of relief and pride at knowing that Rowan wasn't that bad. In fact, it usually was the other way around if Severus was completely honest with himself.

"It's not that bad!" Lily protested. "My older sister, Petunia is quite nice."

Sirius rudely snorts, "Says, you," ass Severus snorted loudly in agreement.

Before Lily can further protest, James kindly interjects, "C'mon now, you guys, it surely isn't that bad." Lily gives James a grateful smile for stepping up to her defense.

Severus drily retorts, "You're an only child, aren't you?"

James blinks sheepishly as Sirius grumbles, "Yup, he's an only child. You can tell by the way he innocently protested." James sullenly crossed his arms and let out an indignant huff as he leans back in his seat.

Severus and Sirius share an unexpected grin of delight and mutually find that they don't find each other half-bad. Lily wryly remains silent as Sirius and Severus quickly become on jolly good terms with each other while James sulks in silence.

The train scenery had long since changed as they sped past fields full of cows and sheep as time quickly passed by and soon it turned half-past twelve. As promised Rowan blinks awake at the noisy sound of a cart nearby and stifles a yawn. Sitting up and stretching her back, Rowan pops her neck as the compartment door slides open by the smiling dimpled woman, who arrives with a food cart. "Anything off of the cart, dearies?" She asked.

Seeing the food, Rowan instantly orders and points at food safe for consumption such as pumpkin pasties, chocolate frogs, biscuits, and the like. Rowan reaches into her bag for payment as pocket money had been given to Severus and her by their grandfather to spend at Hogwarts.

"That will be 3 Sickles and 8 bronze Knuts," the lady with the cart said.

"Wait, I can buy my own food, Rowan!" Lily protested.

"My treat," Rowan firmly said as she handed the exact change to the food cart attendant.

"Thanks," Lily gratefully said as Rowan handed out the shared food, between the three of them.

James and Sirius instantly order items such as Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and other snacks from the cart. The two of them easily pay for their food as Rowan numbly stuffs the pastries into her mouth and wolfs down in a matter of minutes. Unwrapping a chocolate frog, Rowan instantly tosses the card of Morgana La Fey over to Severus, who glares at her but still studies the card in fascination. Curious Lily peers over Severus's shoulder as she watches with great delight the cold enchantress on the card sneer at them.