Chapter Twenty
Adopting Strays
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be, any better than this?"
(Everything - Lifehouse)September 1st, 1971Mia quickly followed James through the barrier that separated platforms nine and
ten. The twins eased their way through the stone wall, both grinning as they pushed their
carts; James's taller than Mia's as it held a large cage with one of the family birds, a small
owl with speckled brown and white wings by the name of Hector. Though Mia had been
offered the chance to bring her own familiar to Hogwarts, she had declined. A part of her
was unwilling to bond with another creature, so soon after leaving, the same way that she
had done with her beloved Crookshanks.
Smoke billowed out of the engine of the train. The familiar sight of the giant, scarlet
steam engine calmed Mia's frazzled nerves—nerves that had been building since Tilly had
woken her that morning. It was a familiar kind of anxiety; one that made her think of her
original first trip to King's Cross and the anticipation of attending Hogwarts for the first
time.
Despite knowing exactly what would happen when she stepped foot on the train
that would take her to school, she was not lingering on memories of a battle-worn castle.
She had spent the past month as Mia Potter, the daughter of Charlus and Dorea Potter,
twin sister of James Potter, and it was practically effortless to get lost in her new life.
The small family rarely left the comfort of the manor; instead, they spent the late
mornings reading together or separately in the massive library that rivalled that of the Black
family library at Grimmauld Place. Afternoons were spent in the orchard, garden, or the
small clearing that James was determined to eventually convert into a proper Quidditch
field where he practised flying, pestering his sister to join him. She always refused.