"The power to create a better future is contained in the present moment: You create a good future by creating a good present. Leaders don't look backwards to condemn what has already been done; they look forward to an innocent future, shaped only by the ideals held by a collective entity, the human race."
Those words pound the back of my mind, a hammer to forge my dreams. My aspirations. I do not know what the future holds, but I know what the 'now' presents. Unlimited possibilities.
The light of the morning sun warms me up to the approaching day. A day full of the unknown. But isn't that life's charm?
I finish tightening the tie around my neck, ready for yet another year of magical mystery.
The pungent smell of books, hugging my nose, pleading me to stay, to linger ever a moment more. I tenderly run my fingers along their backs, comforting them as I exit through the door of my room. My stairs, so daunting, memory lane in your face. Pictures, like wallpaper, plastered every corner of the room. I see my reflection upon them, each one telling its own story, yet each holds a secret only known to a few as much as three.
The creak of the stairs, tales of my many failed escapades to the lands known as the kitchen. The demon king waiting atop the nearby stool, with a knowing smile. or was he an angel? As he waited for me with milk and cookies before ushering me back to bed. I only knew him as dad.
But that same entity was now humbled beneath the heel of the queen, waving her sword-like spatula, domineering in her efforts to flip the omelette. Her blazing hair untameable by any stretch of the imagination. I only knew her as mum.
Someone once said,
"A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams. There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again. Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends and family belong, and laughter never ends."
***
The parting between parent and child; one saddened at the loss, a feeling of emptiness creeping inside, taking hold. Wondering what the other is going through, are they safe? Eating well? Making friends? And most importantly, are they happy?
Blind to all, the counterpart is excited, cheerful and greedy to absorb all that the world offers.
I take in a deep breath, ingesting the remnants of smoke lingering from a passing chimney, a man with a top hat. His cane tapped rhythmically against the concrete floor producing a grating effect that made my teeth sensitive and my ears ring.
Deafening, the sound of voices, bombarding me from all sides. The noise produced by the wheels on a trolley, the heartbeat of the station- the clock, sent a jolt through my body.
Yet, amidst all this clamour, I felt no trace of liveliness, only smouldering souls within cold bodies. Robots, locked in perpetual motion, acting on muscle memory alone. I see no spark, nor a trace of life within those eyes.
*Sigh*
Yet a portal, a different dimension, colour, reality, a parallel universe.
I take in a deep breath ingesting the fresh smell of fairy floss wafting from the store up ahead. I hear the lullaby of laughter, children the creators, soothing, peaceful in the harmonious vibrations of my now exuberant heart.
The cooing of the steam engine, warming up to the thought of running free brought back memories of the castle, the giant castle, full of knowledge. Yes, a castle of wisdom.
And amidst the cacophony of sounds, I felt alive. The rainbow of colour pouring down on me breathed new life into my withering soul. I could almost imagine dementors through the pillar, puppeteers with strings attached to human flesh. empty vessels devoid of purpose, of pleasure, of happiness.
"Her… mione… hermione… HERMIONE!" An incoherent whisper amidst my foggy thoughts it quickly became comprehensible, growing louder and turning into distinct sounds- exploding, thunder in my ears. I felt sudden suction as my thoughts froze before rewinding and receding into the recesses of my mind. Vision clearing as a freckled young boy came into view, shaking his open hand in my face.
"Move out of the way! You're pretty much taking up the whole god damn passagewa--"
BAM!
A fist came down on the boy's head causing a grunt to escape his mouth.
"Ron Weasley! Is that any way to treat a lady? Have I raised you to be such a brute? Apologise immedia--"
"Oh! No-no, it was me who's at fault; I was spacing out in the middle of the passageway." I responded, quickly tugging at my trolley to make room.
Molly quickly turned to me, her angry face morphing into a smile, "what a lovely young girl. My name is Molly, Molly Weasley; I'm this little wastrel's mother." She said gruffly, turning to Ron before tenderly ruffling his hair.
"My name is Hermione Granger. I-I'm a… acquaintance of Ron's. Oh, Harry's too of course!" I amended, noticing Harry who peeked his head out from beneath the sea of red hair.
"Acquaintance, you say," her eyebrow raised, yet she sighed soon after, "well, in any case, I apologise on my son's behalf; I hope you don't take his words to heart." She said sweetly.
I couldn't help but take a liking to her, she seemed to really have a tight grip on everything.
"None taken," I said waving my hands, "I've spent an entire year with Ron here; we've gotten along just fine haven't we Ron?" I squinted playfully, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Ron instantly adverted his darkening gaze, "stupid Tom, mad psych- Right! best of friends." He corrected immediately with a trembling voice; I could see Molly instantly lock her gaze onto him mid-sentence, his quick change causing a chuckle to rise from my stomach.
Deciding to pay no more attention to Ron I turned back to his mother, "It was a pleasure to meet you Mrs Weasly, but I must be going; I still need to secure my luggage."
"Oh right-right, don't let me hold you up then," Molly said quickly.
The further I got the less I could hear, but Molly's angry tone and Ron's pleas still made their way to my ears; his scolding had resumed. Even with Tom's absence, it seems I still have a way to entertain myself. What a fun year this was going to be.
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An: It's been a long time since I posted. I hope you're all having a wonderful time and that you've enjoyed this chapter.