(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Charlotte sighed as she stepped onto the bustling platform, her father’s voice barely discernible over the vibrant chatter echoing throughout King’s Cross. The day she’d been waiting for had finally arrived; the day she’d depart from platform nine-and-three-quarters. She’d been sure to get up an hour earlier to do her hair — her silky, platinum-blonde strands were styled into a half-up ponytail, bangs brushed gently against her forehead. She ran her manicured fingers through her freshly styled cut, her gaze settling back onto her parents.
“I can’t believe how big my little girl is getting,” her mother gushed. “I remember when you were just a little girl, running around on your father’s broomstick—"
Her father chimed in with a smile, “Listen, I always knew this child was gonna be a pro-athlete—"
The bellowing sound of the train horn silenced both of their embarrassing commentary, and Charlotte rushed forward to embrace both of her parents.
“You’re going to do great,” her father whispered, “I know you will.”
She gave her parents both a peck on the cheek, then turned away, calling out, “I’ll be sure to write!” She hurriedly made her way onto the train, her heeled Mary Janes clacking with each and every step. Finally, she settled into an empty cabin.
She crossed her legs as she sat, her thighs adorned in a plaid, pleated miniskirt of camel tones. Above it, a white, button-up blouse, layered beneath a creamish-white, cable-knit sweater hugged her skin. She gazed out the window, watching the station blur and eventually fade into the passing tree-line. She popped an earbud in, and the familiar tune of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones faded in. Her mother had enchanted an old IPod for her as a parting gift. Knowing muggle technology wouldn’t work within Hogwarts, she’d wanted her daughter to still be able to listen to the music she so desperately adored.
She hummed quietly, mouthing the lyrics to herself—
“I can't get no satisfaction,
gonna try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no—"
The words died in her throat as the cabin door slid loudly open.
“I can’t believe how big my little girl is getting,” her mother gushed. “I remember when you were just a little girl, running around on your father’s broomstick—"
Her father chimed in with a smile, “Listen, I always knew this child was gonna be a pro-athlete—"
The bellowing sound of the train horn silenced both of their embarrassing commentary, and Charlotte rushed forward to embrace both of her parents.
“You’re going to do great,” her father whispered, “I know you will.”
She gave her parents both a peck on the cheek, then turned away, calling out, “I’ll be sure to write!” She hurriedly made her way onto the train, her heeled Mary Janes clacking with each and every step. Finally, she settled into an empty cabin.
She crossed her legs as she sat, her thighs adorned in a plaid, pleated miniskirt of camel tones. Above it, a white, button-up blouse, layered beneath a creamish-white, cable-knit sweater hugged her skin. She gazed out the window, watching the station blur and eventually fade into the passing tree-line. She popped an earbud in, and the familiar tune of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones faded in. Her mother had enchanted an old IPod for her as a parting gift. Knowing muggle technology wouldn’t work within Hogwarts, she’d wanted her daughter to still be able to listen to the music she so desperately adored.
She hummed quietly, mouthing the lyrics to herself—
“I can't get no satisfaction,
gonna try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no—"
The words died in her throat as the cabin door slid loudly open.