Laura Hollis, the nationally acclaimed pescetarian and advocate for bike safety, sighed as she flounced down on the living room couch, sweating from the blazing August sun. It was only a matter of time before she would be going returning to Hogwarts for her seventh year, and she had been so busy that she hadn't had the time to buy any of her books or supplies.

She slid into her car and slammed the door shut, hitting the radio button and silently jamming out to some old eighties songs. It took her about an half-an-hour to arrive at The Leaky Cauldron, and she stepped out of her car to walked through the muggy air and smells of beer and cigarettes until she arrived at the backroom, where she tapped a pattern on the brick wall. The wall opened and allowed her to get through to Diagon Alley (a.k.a the wizard's marketplace).

She spent two hours in Diagon Alley, buying books from Flourish and Blotts and getting her robe fitted at Madam Malkin's whilst observing her supply list. She also had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Ollivander, who had become a close friend to her within the past few years. When she finally got home, her legs were sore and she yawned as she fell into her soft, cozy bed and slept the rest of the day away in peace.

~ One Month Later ~

The train station was bustling with visitors on September 1st, 2015. Laura had been sure to pack everything, ranging from the super-soft yellow pillow that she had received as a birthday gift from her father to the loud, hooting owl in the cage on her lap. She was utterly tired, dark circles under her eyes showing the evidence on her face. When the giant clock on the wall ticked 11' o'clock, Laura grabbed her suitcases, looked around cautiously, then jumped through Platform 9 3/4.

Her head got that familiar dizzying effect as she stepped through the wall. The Hogwarts Express stood waiting in the station, steam floating in puffy clouds out the chimney. Hundreds of kids were boarding the train, and Laura took a deep breath before stepping on herself. Laura breathed in that familiar smell of, well, coal, as she walked through the aisles to look for a booth. "Hey, we're available," said a couple of redheads sitting in the booth to her left. She opened the door and smiled gratefully down at the passengers.

Within a few minutes of rapid talking, Laura became acquainted with the redheads. One, named LaFontaine, identified as non-binary and seemed to be dating the curly-haired girl next to them, Lola Perry. They seemed friendly enough and Laura found herself liking the couple. She also found out that they were both in Gryffindor, the same house as hers.

As soon as the train pulled out of the station, a trolley began pulling through the aisles to sell various treats such as Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jellybeans, Chocolate Frogs, and Cauldron Cakes. LaFontaine halts the sweet-looking elderly lady and asks for one of everything. Perry slaps them across the arm with an angry huff. "Stop being such a pig, LaFontaine." LaFontaine puts their arms up in the air and grins guiltily.

"What can I say? I love candy." Perry simply folded her arms with a crossed expression on her face.

The train rumbles through the countryside in silence. LaFontaine had fallen asleep on Perry's arm, drooling slightly. Perry looked on in disgust, but didn't do anything to remove their head from her shoulder. Laura sighed. She couldn't help but feel…alone. The only time she had been in a relationship was in elementary school, but that didn't really count because, you know, elementary school.

At seven o'clock P.M. the train parked into Hogsmeade Station. Laura, LaFontaine, and Perry had already changed into their school uniforms, and they giggled together about something unimportant. The regal doors of Hogwarts awaited them, tall and magnificent in the looming darkness of night.

Warmth greeted the students as they entered the Great Hall, and the familiar smells of food and cake wafted to their nostrils. The students settled down at their house tables and stared hungrily at the vibrant assortment of delicacies before them. A small, spidery woman with wispy gray hair walked up to a wooden podium surrounded by various teachers. ready to give a speech for the new students. "Psst," LaFontaine whispered to Laura. "I think that Slytherin chick is staring at you." Laura whipped her head around to look at the Slytherin table, decked out in the cold green and silver house colors. A sly looking girl with curly dark brown hair was glaring plainly at her, her dark brown eyes wide with interest. As she noticed Laura staring at her, she gave a sultry smirk, and turned back around. Laura shrugged and returned to looking at the front of the room where the headmistress was just finishing up her welcoming speech.

"So, students, I present to you the future generation of witches and wizards." The old lady gave a smile and the grand doors opened, a procession of eleven-year olds stepping hesitantly through the Hall. Laura gave an encouraging smile at them, and gestured at them to straighten their backs. A tiny stool was brought to the front of the room; on it lay the aging, stitched-up folds of the famous Sorting Hat.

Names were called out individually, and the nervous, clumsy first-years walked up to the stool to be sorted. The Sorting Hat called out the names of the houses in a stream of loud huffs. "Gryffindor! Hufflepuff! Ravenclaw! Slytherin!" It seemed as if there were an infinite amount of first-years this year.

When the sorting finally ended, it was midnight and everyone was crawling to the common rooms. Laura was full, her stomach brimming with the weight of all the food she had eaten. As she pushed in her chair to head upstairs, she noticed a familiar-looking girl stepping slowly towards her. "I saw you looking at me during dinner," she spoke slowly, her voice slightly raspy and the expression on her face smug. "My name's Carmilla."

"Um, excuse me?! If I remember correctly, you were the one staring at me." Laura's breath was huffy and aggravated.

"Woah there," the girl placed a slim arm on Laura's shoulder. "Chill out, creampuff." Her tongue coolly caressed the word in a seductive manner—this, evidently, creeped Laura out.

"Uhhhh, I'm g-going now..." Laura choked out, spluttering on her words. She gave one last wary glance at Carmilla, who was calmly staring back with a smirk painted on her face, and jolted up the steps to the Gryffindor common room.

"Bye, cutie," whispered the girl from the foot of the steps just as Laura left. A dark grin flashed across her lips and she disappeared into the darkness.