The icy January wind blew against their faces as they pushed their trollies through King's Cross station. Even clad in hats, scarves and several layers, they couldn't escape the weather, and the cold air found even the tiniest holes and gaps in their clothing to force itself through. They had given their goodbyes to Sirius and Mrs Weasley when they left Grimmauld Place early that morning; Lupin and Tonks escorted them to the train.
"Come on," came Tonks's voice from the front of the group. "Hurry up or you'll miss the train!"
They all hurried across the station as fast as they could, but the layer of snow on the platforms made it difficult to push trollies and drag trunks. Luckily, both Hedwig and Pigwidgeon had remained at the castle for the holidays (since nobody had planned on spending the weeks in London), which reduced their luggage by two owl cages.
Fred had just closed door behind him and the rest of the group when the train set into motion with a lurch that made both Kiera and Ron almost lose balance. They waved at Tonks and Lupin who stood on the platform until they disappeared behind the bend.
"Well – we're going to find Lee," said George. "See you around."
Before any of them had managed to respond, he and Fred had turned and disappeared down the corridor.
Shrugging her book bag onto her shoulder, Ginny said, "Yeah, I'll go find Michael," and followed the twins, dragging her trunk behind her, red hair bouncing with her steps.
And then there were four.
"So, should we go find a compartment?" asked Hermione. Harry and Ron nodded and the three began to walk down the corridor, but Kiera stood still and stared blankly at the colourless houses of London. "Kiera, are you coming?"
The trio had paused some feet away. Kiera stared at Hermione for a moment. "Coming where?"
"To find a compartment," Hermione said, amusement in her voice as one of her eyebrows rose slightly.
Questions and sentences started in her thoughts, only to be cut off in the middle when others appeared on top of them. Kiera's eyebrows knitted together, and she blinked. In the end, she could only phrase one question to completion.
"Why?"
"Because we want you to sit with us," she stated. Ron didn't look like he completely shared the sentiment. "Unless you have other plans?"
"No," said Kiera, grabbing her trunk handle and pulling it behind her to catch up with the others, still feeling a little confused. Though they had got along (unexpectedly) well at Grimmauld Place, she had not expected them to still be in her company at school when they weren't imprisoned in the same house for days and where others might see.
They hadn't walked far when some shouted behind them. "Harry, Hermione, Ron! Over here!"
Neville Longbottom was peeking out of a compartment behind them, waving his hand. The trio immediately began towards their fellow Gryffindor, but Kiera was hesitant; she had never talked with Neville.
But only a few seconds had managed to pass before Harry looked over his shoulder. "Come on, Kiera," he said, nodding his head sideways towards the compartment which Hermione and Ron had already disappeared into.
With one last hesitant look at Harry, Kira followed him into the compartment. She sat down by the door, next to Ron and opposite Harry.
Neville, meanwhile, sent a quizzical look to Hermione who smiled and said, "Neville, this is Kiera Walker. Kiera, this is Neville Longbottom." When the look did not vanish from Neville's face, she continued reassuringly, "She's okay, Neville."
![Halcyon ; Harry Potter [3] by Dan_Is_Not_On_Fire_7](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/85736247-80-k931278.jpg)
![𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 ~ 𝐃.𝐌 [𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃] by Draco_Malfoy_Lover7](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/257211428-80-k669906.jpg)
Hermione's word seemed to be enough to remove his doubt because Neville stretched out his hand for her to shake. "Nice to meet you," he said.
"You too."
Kiera smiled. She couldn't help but pinch herself, convinced that there was no chance this was all actually happening.
They began a light conversation about their holidays. Sharing funny family drama, fighting about which was best holiday sweet, and wondering if anything new had happened at Hogwarts, Kiera quickly noticed that they all seemed to avoid the subject of St Mungo's. About two hours into their train ride, when the view behind the windows had turned from the city of London to the warehouses of industrial Northampton, the compartment door slid open to receal the three people that were most unwelcome.
"You're back then are you, Potter?" sneered Draco Malfoy. "I'd have thought they'd have a private room saved up just for you at St Mungo's mental ward."
Both Kiera and Harry opened their mouths, but it was Neville who spoke first. "Go away, Malfoy!" he said as he stood up.
"Uh oh," Malfoy said mockingly, feigning a frightful expression for a moment before he allowed it to change into a wide grin. He glanced over both shoulders to look at Crabbe and Goyle in turn, both of whom were also smirking menacingly. "Don't worry Longbottom, I'm sure they'd let you visit. You are, after all, incapable of harming anyone but yourself."
"Oh, just shove off, Malfoy," Kiera said exasperatedly.
The three Slytherins seemed to only then notice her presence. At first, their expressions were overtaken with shock, then Malfoy's sneer grew even wider than before.
"Walker! What are you doing here? Finally got yourself some friends, have you? What did you bribe them with?" She opened her mouth to retaliate, but Malfoy continued. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot – you haven't got anything to bribe anybody with, not even Weasley."
Kiera's neck burned. "How about yourself then? Do you threaten all your cronies that you'll send the Dark Lard after them if they don't follow you around?" she said.
Malfoy's pale cheeks tinted a faint pink, but he didn't seem to have any more mocking in him because after a final leer at his five classmates in the compartment, he turned and left, Crabbe and Goyle following suit. They stared at the glass door for a few seconds, nobody moving nor speaking until Neville finally sat back down with a huff.
"So ..." said Ron awkwardly, "you lot up for a round of Exploding Snap?"
Everybody gave mumbles of agreement, expect Kiera who said, "Oh, I'm good. I don't remember the rules much..." She drifted off.
"That's okay; we'll teach you," said Harry, giving her a gentle smile.
After a moment's staring contest, she shrugged her shoulders and moved closer to Ron in order to reach the table better, and the rest of the train ride (which was completely unbothered by Malfoy and everybody else) passed quicker than any other Kiera had taken.
*
Regardless of the happiness Kiera felt during the train ride, by the time they all reached the Great Hall, her mood had sunk. She stood in the large doorway, feeling unprepared to step inside and shared a look with Hermione.
Clearing her throat, Kiera said, "Um ... I suppose I'll see you three later."
"Yeah..." Hermione mumbled.
