Adieu

"Would you like to take a seat over -" Draco started to speak but stopped because just then, there was a commotion in the middle of the group of kids.

It was coming from where the two boys were fighting over a pastry earlier."- there." He finished, pointing at a table at the corner of the ballroom. Far away from the rowdy kids.

All four of them agreed that they did not know this group of kids. Nope they did not.

"Sure." Sierra smiled.

They headed towards that table and made ourselves comfortable.

"How old are you guys?" Draco asked.

Sia guessed he would be the one talking from their side today.

"I'm eleven, and my sister is seven," Kar answered him.

"Oh. Does that mean you'll be starting Hogwarts soon?" He asked eagerly.

"Yep," Karalyn answered proudly.

Sia smirked at that. Kar was acting like an 11 year old.

"Wow. I wish I could grow up faster." Draco said.

"I can totally understand." Sia too agreed.

"Waiting for four years is like waiting for a lifetime~" "Totally~" He said.

The group went quiet after that, though it was not uncomfortable.

The rest of the evening was spent observing the different people in the ballroom, discussing how the people were behaving.

In between, they talked about Hogwarts, their hobbies, Quidditch, and many things that had no connection with each other.

The talking was done mostly by Draco, Sierra and Karalyn. Theodore stayed quiet all evening.

In the middle of the party, the girls saw their uncles and aunts. But they did not see their brothers anywhere. Kar guessed they somehow managed to wriggle out of their mothers' grasps this time.

"Sia. Kar. Girls, we will be leaving soon." Their mom came to them and informed when the party was almost at an end.

"We'll be right there, mom," Kar answered.

Valarie went back to the door of the ballroom where their dad was talking with the Malfoy couple.

The girls turned back to the two boys at the table.

"I guess we'll be taking our leave first," Kar said.

"It was nice to meet you both," Sierra added.

"Same to you. I hope we will meet soon," Draco smiled.

Theodore too nodded at both of them, "See you next time."

With that, they went to their parents who were waiting for them by the door.

___

That night as Sierra laid in bed with her sister, she thought of their unexpected encounter with Draco and Theodore. She had decided to sleep with Karalyn before she left for Hogwarts.

"Hm... That was very out of the blue." Kar brought her out of her thoughts.

"Ya. I thought Draco would act very snobby and rude, though it was not like that. He seemed normal." Sia too agreed.

"He is a spoiled brat, but I did not find him to be someone who would willingly support that noseless bastard," Kar commented. "He has too much pride for that."

"Hmm..."

'Yes. Neither Draco nor Theodore seemed like someone who would willingly follow anyone, let alone someone like Voldemort. They might become cold and arrogant in the future, but at present, they are just little kids eager to go to Hogwarts.' Sia thought

"Sis, I think I would start going to balls from now on. I want to stay in touch with those two." She said.

"No problem. Both will make an exciting company at least, I think. Though they are not mature, we cannot deny that they are very clever for their age." Kar answered.

"Yep. I think Blondie's dumb side only shows when Harry is around." Sia joked.

They both laughed a little at that.

For Harry, Draco's first impression was of someone who badmouthed the first person who was good to him. Also, the girls loved Hagrid.

This thought reminded Sia that they would soon be visiting Diagon Alley for Kar's Hogwarts shopping.

But, she wasn't looking forward to Kar's departure.

Since they were kids, they had never stayed far from each other for more than a few weeks. Those were also rare occasions.

Even when Karalyn got admitted to a college, she could not leave home to stay in the dorms as COVID-19 started when she was about to give her twelfth grade board exam. She had done her first three semesters online from home.

Sia turned to her.

Karalyn was half asleep. It was already midnight.

Sierra smiled and kissed her forehead and went to sleep.

She'll miss her...

___

"How was your summer?"

"You have grown so tall."

"Baby, I missed you."

"Did you do the homework given by Snape?"

"Did you keep your socks properly?"

As soon as she gathered her courage and ran through the infamous barrier, crowds of people and a scarlet engine welcomed me.

The platform was full of people of all ages.

Grandparents, and parents who came to see their children off, reminiscing their days at Hogwarts.

Then, the younger sisters and brothers who were staring around with curiosity, excitement, and jealousy. Jealous of the students who were boarding the train.

And lastly, there were the students. The older students searching for their friends and sharing their summer breaks. And the first years who were not able to stay still due to all the excitement and nerves.

Sia stared around, dazed by all this.

"Kar, did you pack everything properly?" their mother's voice brought her out of her daze.

"Yes, mum~"

"Don't forget to write home. Though I know you would. And if any boy dares to trouble you, just tell me. I will have a nice chat with him." Their dad told Karalyn.

"Michael!" Valarie scolded him.

"What? I was just joking." Though, both the girls were sure he wasn't.

And with that, their parents got into a banter over whether Karalyn was old enough to be talked to about such topics.

"Sis," Sia called her sister. "Ya?"

"Write me every week. Try making some friends, though I know you find them bothersome. And enjoy yourself."

Karalyn smiled at her little sister.

"I will miss you," Sia whispered.

"Me too. Though just this much." Kar said bringing her index finger and thumb very close. Sierra smiled at that.

A few minutes later the family was joined by the Knights. And just as they were done with our goodbyes and love yous, the train whistled.

"Bye, Al. Bye, Kar." Sia wished them the last time.

The two cousins boarded the train in a hurry. And soon the train started.

The family stood there staring at that red express for quite a while.

Oh. Though she was 16 years old, Sierra could still not stop herself from feeling sad.

'Aish. I have four more years to wait.'

___