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Cecilia woke up that morning feeling the familiar, buzzing excitement that only the first day of school could bring. She quickly threw on her favorite pink tee and a pair of jeans, not bothering to worry about what everyone else would think — it was comfortable, and that was all that mattered. She grabbed her things and bounded down the stairs of the Leaky Cauldron, eager to join everyone else.

In the common room, the Weasleys were already gathered around the large, hearty breakfast spread. Mr. Weasley, already sipping his tea, was reading the Daily Prophet, his eyes darting back and forth over the front page. Mrs. Weasley was standing near the table, trying to corral Ginny, Hermione, and a few younger kids who were enthusiastically discussing the latest gossip about Hogwarts. Harry and Ron were sitting near the window, lost in a conversation about the upcoming term.

Cecilia entered with a bright smile. "Morning, everyone!" she said, waving a bit too enthusiastically.

"Morning, Cecilia," Mrs. Weasley called, turning to her with a smile. "Good to see you up and about!"

"Ready for the train?" Ginny asked, beaming. She was already dressed in her Hogwarts robes, her hair in its usual messy braid.

"Almost. Just needed to find a moment of peace before we head off," Cecilia joked, grabbing a muffin from the table and sitting down beside Ron, who was looking a bit more tired than usual.

"You sure you're alright?" Ron asked, glancing at her over the top of his mug. "You look... different."

"Different? How?" Cecilia asked, her brow furrowed.

"Like you've got something else going on," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

"I'm just excited for school, that's all," she said, not wanting to admit the truth that she was feeling a little out of place without her parents around. But before she could explain more, Mrs. Weasley hurried over with a firm but kind smile.

"We're all set to go, Cecilia. Your parents would have wanted me to keep an eye on you while they're away," Mrs. Weasley said, patting Cecilia on the shoulder gently. "We'll make sure you're all ready for the trip."

Cecilia nodded. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley."

"Don't worry about a thing!" Fred said, popping into view with a mischievous grin. "We'll make sure you have a smooth ride to school. Just stick with us, and everything will be fun."

George added, "And if anything goes wrong, you can always blame it on us."

Cecilia couldn't help but smile. It was reassuring to know she had the Weasley family looking out for her. Fred and George, especially, had a way of making everything feel like an adventure.

The morning passed quickly as everyone packed up and made their way out of the Leaky Cauldron, carrying trunks and owls and chatting excitedly. As they reached the busy streets of Diagon Alley, Mrs. Weasley nudged Cecilia in the direction of the Ministry cars that had been arranged for their travel.

"We'll go ahead with the Weasley kids, dear," Mrs. Weasley said kindly, ushering Cecilia toward the nearest car. "Your parents will catch up with you later."

Cecilia felt a pang of longing, but she quickly shoved it aside. The Weasleys were great company, and she wasn't alone. She followed them into the car with a small wave, looking around at the bustling streets as the car rolled toward King's Cross.

The ride to King's Cross was filled with the usual chatter and laughter. Ron and Harry were already deep into a conversation about the upcoming Quidditch season, while Fred and George were scheming about the next joke they planned to pull off at Hogwarts.